# Jobs under Ronald Reagan, 1981–1989

Source page: https://govargus.com/presidents/reagan/jobs

Under Ronald Reagan, the number of payroll jobs went from 90.9 million jobs in Dec 1980 to 106.9 million jobs in Dec 1988, up 16.0 million jobs (+17.5%). That is +1.99 million jobs/yr, against +2.62 million jobs/yr in the four years before. Ranked by yearly change, it is the 4th-fastest rise of the 8 completed terms since 1977.

Nonfarm payroll jobs: Total jobs on US nonfarm payrolls (Current Employment Statistics survey, seasonally adjusted). The change over a term is the number of jobs added or lost. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, via FRED PAYEMS (https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PAYEMS), fetched Oct 19, 2026.

## Year by year

Highest reading during the term: 106.9 million jobs in Dec 1988. Lowest: 88.8 million jobs in Dec 1982.

| Period | Value | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dec 1980, before inauguration | 90.9 million jobs |  |
| Dec 1981 | 90.9 million jobs | 0.0 million jobs |
| Dec 1982 | 88.8 million jobs | −2.1 million jobs |
| Dec 1983 | 92.2 million jobs | +3.5 million jobs |
| Dec 1984 | 96.1 million jobs | +3.9 million jobs |
| Dec 1985 | 98.6 million jobs | +2.5 million jobs |
| Dec 1986 | 100.5 million jobs | +1.9 million jobs |
| Dec 1987 | 103.7 million jobs | +3.2 million jobs |
| Dec 1988 | 106.9 million jobs | +3.2 million jobs |

## Every term

Sorted by yearly change, fastest rise first. A term's first year mostly reflects the previous administration's policies, and Congress, the Federal Reserve and the world economy move these numbers too. Govargus describes; it does not score presidents.

| President | Term | During term | 4 years before |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Joe Biden | 2021–2025 | 142.5 million jobs → 158.3 million jobs (+3.94 million jobs/yr) | −0.71 million jobs/yr |
| Bill Clinton | 1993–2001 | 109.5 million jobs → 132.7 million jobs (+2.90 million jobs/yr) | +0.65 million jobs/yr |
| Jimmy Carter | 1977–1981 | 80.4 million jobs → 90.9 million jobs (+2.62 million jobs/yr) | +1.29 million jobs/yr |
| Ronald Reagan | 1981–1989 | 90.9 million jobs → 106.9 million jobs (+1.99 million jobs/yr) | +2.62 million jobs/yr |
| Barack Obama | 2009–2017 | 134.8 million jobs → 145.4 million jobs (+1.32 million jobs/yr) | +0.55 million jobs/yr |
| George H. W. Bush | 1989–1993 | 106.9 million jobs → 109.5 million jobs (+0.65 million jobs/yr) | +2.70 million jobs/yr |
| Donald Trump (2nd term) | 2025–present | 158.3 million jobs → 159.0 million jobs (+0.42 million jobs/yr, through Sep 2026) | +3.94 million jobs/yr |
| George W. Bush | 2001–2009 | 132.7 million jobs → 134.8 million jobs (+0.27 million jobs/yr) | +2.89 million jobs/yr |
| Donald Trump (1st term) | 2017–2021 | 145.4 million jobs → 142.5 million jobs (−0.71 million jobs/yr) | +2.58 million jobs/yr |