CHICAGO, IL – Former President Bill Clinton claimed during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) that Democratic presidents have created 50 million jobs since 1989, while Republican presidents have created only 1 million jobs.
“Since the end of the Cold War in 1989, America has created about 51 million new jobs. What’s the result? Democrats 50 (million), Republicans 1 (million),” Clinton said.
While his statement is broadly correct, it requires context.
Clinton job claims ‘mostly true’
The Poytner Institute rates Clinton’s claim as “mostly true.”
A total of 50.6 million jobs were created during the presidencies of George HW Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. About 1 million, or 2.6%, were created under Republican Presidents Bush, Bush and Trump.
But before Democrats can pat themselves on the back, Poytner highlights the role of Congress from 1995 to 2001.
“Attributing job creation to policies or presidents is not straightforward. The Republican Congress from 1995 to 2001 may deserve some of the credit for job growth under Clinton,” their analysis reads.
PolitiFact agrees.
“The snake point still has value. But it ignores caveats about shared governance and lucky timing,” said an article from last March.
Still, a chart in the Politifact story shows the stark difference in job creation between Democratic and Republican presidents since the end of World War II.
Clinton acknowledged the improbability of these numbers.
“I swear I checked this three times – even I couldn’t believe it,” he added.
By the numbers in Racine County
Locally, policies and federal initiatives such as the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), both passed under President Joe Biden, have directed millions of dollars to Wisconsin.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
The City of Racine received approximately $47 million in ARPA funds that have been used in a number of ways, including the following:
- Public health and safety: A portion of ARPA funding was directed toward public health initiatives, including COVID-19 efforts, which required the hiring of additional healthcare workers, contact tracers, and support staff.
- Support for small businesses: ARPA funds were used to create grant programs and provide financial assistance to small businesses in Racine struggling due to the pandemic. As a result, some companies were able to expand or adapt their activities, leading to the creation of new jobs.
- Infrastructure and community projects: Infrastructure improvements have begun thanks to ARPA funding. Upgrading public facilities and expanding broadband access have created jobs in construction, technology and related fields.
Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has also played a role in job creation in Racine by funding major infrastructure projects such as the following:
- Road and bridge repair: The Infrastructure Act has provided funding for much-needed repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges and highways in and around Racine, which require additional construction workers, engineers and other skilled workers.
- Upgrading the water and sewage system: The law has funded upgrades to Racine’s water and sewer systems, such as replacing lead pipes. While new waterfronts are essential for public health and environmental protection, it requires construction, plumbing and environmental engineering workers to complete the projects.
- Broadband expansion: The Infrastructure Act contains provisions on extending broadband access to under-protected areas. In Racine, this has led to the creation of jobs in technology, installation and maintenance, as well as improved Internet access for residents and businesses.
Business vs non-business job numbers
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics typically uses non-agricultural job numbers to calculate job growth in any defined period.
From March 2023 to March 2024, the Biden administration reported 2.9 million jobs created, but a Forbes article puts the number as closer to 2.1 million when the total is adjusted for agricultural workers.
“We’re not sweating this report,” Yardeni Research founder and economist Ed Yardeni is quoted in the story. He said “the revision is largely ‘old news’ given that it tracks employment data from several months ago.”