During his speech at the Democratic National Convention, former President Bill Clinton made a striking claim about job creation in the U.S. He asserted that of the 51 million jobs created since the end of the Cold War in 1989, a staggering 50 million were created during Democratic administrations.
“Since the end of the Cold War in 1989, America has created about 51 million new jobs. I swear, I checked this three times; even I couldn’t believe it. What’s the score? Democrats 50, Republicans 1,” Clinton said.
Fact Check: Clinton’s assertion is true.
Job Creation Overview:
From January 1989 through July 2024, the U.S. economy added approximately 51.825 million jobs, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) seasonally adjusted data.
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Distribution by Administration:
Democratic Administrations: From February 1989, when President George H.W. Bush’s term ended, to July 2024, approximately 50.281 million jobs were added under Democratic presidents.
Republican Administrations: During this same period, 1.544 million jobs were added under Republican presidents, including the job gains from the end of President Ronald Reagan’s term in January 1989.
Variations Based on Timing:
If the analysis begins in January, the numbers shift slightly: about 49.985 million jobs were created under Democratic presidents, compared to 1.84 million under Republican presidents.
Conclusion:
Bill Clinton’s claim accurately reflects a significant trend: Democratic presidents have indeed overseen far more job creation compared to their Republican counterparts since the end of the Cold War. This disparity underscores a notable difference in job growth performance between the two major parties over the past several decades.
