States Led By GOP Governors Dominate 2017’s Top States For Job Growth 

In 2017, GOP governors continued to prove why they are known as America’s doers by spurring massive job growth and expanding economic opportunity for the people of their states. As Governing reports, the top five states for job growth in the nation last year were all led by Republican governors, with Governor Brian Sandoval’s Nevada leading the way at 3.1 percent growth. Rounding out the top five were Utah, led by Governor Gary Herbert, Florida, with Rick Scott as Governor, Idaho under Governor Butch Otter, and Georgia, led by Governor Nathan Deal. As GOP governors work to cut regulations, reduce taxes, attract new investment, and support job creation, the citizens of their states continue to reap the rewards of their pro-growth, pro-jobs policies.

Governing reports:

“Nearly all states added jobs in 2017, but the latest Labor Department data suggests most states experienced slower growth last year than in 2016.

Still, it proved to be a particularly strong year for a select group of states — 10 of which recorded year-over-year job gains exceeding 2 percent.

Nevada experienced the top growth of any state, with preliminary estimates showing a robust 3.3 percent gain over the 12-month period ending in December. The state had enjoyed rapid growth leading up to the Great Recession, before suffering a collapse of its housing market and among the steepest job losses in the country. The more recent job gains represent a comeback for Nevada, although its economy is still not growing at quite the same rate as before.

Contributing to Nevada’s growth are several new construction projects in Las Vegas that are underway or are slated to begin soon. To the north, the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center and Tesla’s expansion are helping drive additional economic growth. A number of other industries, particularly education, health, and professional and businesses services, are also adding jobs throughout the state. ‘The recovery has proven to be very diverse and broad-based,’ Anderson says…

Nearly matching Nevada is Utah, which saw its annual average employment climb 3 percent for the year. Much of the growth in the state is occurring in what’s been dubbed the ‘Silicon Slopes,’ a region spanning Salt Lake City, Park City and Provo, and where several tech companies, such as Adobe and Dell EMC, have large facilities. Expanding tourism is also helping to prop up the state’s economy, particularly with record attendance at many national parks, says Carrie Mayne, chief economist at the Utah Department of Workforce Services.”