The labor market has fundamentally transformed since 2020. Total U.S. employment now exceeds pre-pandemic levels, but the distribution across occupations and states has shifted. This tool shows you where workers are today—so you can plan hiring strategy based on current market reality.
Key Takeaways
- National employment has fully recovered and grown. Total U.S. employment now exceeds pre-pandemic levels by several million jobs.
- The mix has changed. Some occupations grew faster during recovery; others still lag or have permanently restructured.
- State-level recovery varies. Some states bounced back faster than others—and employment concentration has shifted geographically.
- Current data matters most for hiring. Historical recovery patterns inform context, but current employment levels determine today’s talent availability.
- Pair employment with wages. High employment + rising wages signals strong demand; high employment + stagnant wages may indicate labor surplus.
Key Takeaways
- View current employment levels by occupation nationally and by state
- See which occupations have the largest workforces today
- Compare employment alongside wages for labor market context
- Understand post-2020 shifts in where workers are concentrated
- Plan hiring strategy with current BLS OEWS data
Table of Contents
Current Employment Levels by Occupation
View current employment levels across occupations. The labor market has transformed since 2020—see which occupations now employ the largest workforces and where employment is concentrated.
Overview
The 2020 pandemic caused the sharpest employment drop in modern history. By late 2020, the U.S. had lost over 20 million jobs. But the recovery was equally dramatic—and by 2022, total employment had surpassed pre-pandemic peaks.
However, not all occupations recovered equally:
- Remote-friendly professional services grew faster, with many firms adding headcount beyond 2019 levels.
- Healthcare occupations saw surging demand, though workforce shortages persist.
- Some sectors restructured permanently, with fewer positions than before the pandemic.
This tool shows you the current state of employment by occupation—where workers are now, not just where they were heading.
The recovery in context
What changed since 2020
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Remote work accelerated geographic redistribution. Workers moved to lower-cost states, and employers followed with distributed hiring.
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Wages rose sharply in competitive occupations. Labor shortages forced employers to increase pay, particularly in healthcare, technology, and skilled trades.
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Some occupations consolidated. Automation and efficiency gains reduced headcount in certain administrative and operational roles.
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New occupations emerged. The pandemic accelerated demand for roles in logistics, digital infrastructure, and healthcare support.
Current employment tells the story
The tool above shows current employment levels from the latest BLS OEWS survey. While we can’t directly measure “recovery rate” with snapshot data, the absolute employment numbers reveal which occupations dominate today’s labor market.
Compare occupations by:
- Total employment — raw workforce size
- Relative size — how large each occupation is compared to the largest
- Mean wage — compensation levels signal demand and competition
Key insights
Healthcare and professional services lead. Registered nurses, software developers, and management roles consistently rank among the largest occupation categories.
High employment doesn’t mean easy hiring. Large talent pools attract more employers. The most competitive occupations may have millions of workers but still have acute shortages due to high demand.
Geographic concentration shifted. States that gained population during the pandemic (Texas, Florida, Arizona) now show higher employment in many occupations than their 2019 baselines.
Wages rose disproportionately. Occupations that faced the tightest labor markets during recovery saw the fastest wage growth. Use the wage benchmarking tool to see current compensation levels.
How to use this data (step by step)
Step 1 — Select your geography. Choose “National Overview” for U.S.-wide employment or select a specific state.
Step 2 — Review employment rankings. See which occupations have the largest workforces, their relative sizes, and associated wages.
Step 3 — Compare to your hiring needs. Large occupations offer deeper candidate pools but more competition. Smaller occupations may require premium offers.
Step 4 — Cross-reference with wages. High employment + high wages = strong demand. High employment + low wages = possible oversupply.
Step 5 — Consider multiple states. Run the tool for several target states to see where employment is concentrated for your key occupations.
Step 6 — Plan your hiring approach. Deep labor markets support volume hiring; thin markets need targeted recruiting and competitive compensation.
Methodology and limitations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).
What you see: Current employment estimates by occupation, representing estimated jobs at the time of the survey.
Geography: All 50 states + DC. State totals aggregate all metro and non-metro areas.
What is not included: Self-employed workers, unpaid family workers, farm workers, and military personnel.
Recovery context: This tool shows current snapshot data, not historical time series. For recovery trends over time, see BLS employment situation reports at bls.gov/ces.
Timeliness: OEWS is released annually with a May reference period. The survey year is displayed in the tool.
FAQs
What does this Employment Recovery Tracker show?
It displays current employment levels by occupation from official BLS OEWS data.
You can see which occupations have the largest workforces nationally and by state.
Learn More...
The tool ranks occupations by total employment, showing relative workforce sizes and mean wages.
While the labor market has recovered from 2020, this tool shows you the current state—not historical recovery trajectories.
Use it to understand where workers are today for hiring and location strategy.
Has the labor market fully recovered from the pandemic?
Yes, total U.S. employment now exceeds pre-pandemic levels by several million jobs.
However, the distribution across occupations and states has shifted significantly.
Learn More...
Recovery was uneven—some occupations grew beyond 2019 levels while others restructured permanently.
Geographic shifts also occurred, with states like Texas, Florida, and Arizona gaining employment share.
This tool shows current employment levels, reflecting both recovery and structural changes.
Why focus on current employment rather than recovery rates?
Current employment levels determine today's talent availability and competition.
Historical recovery rates inform context, but hiring decisions require current data.
Learn More...
A 100% recovery rate doesn't help if the occupation is small—you still have few candidates.
Current employment counts tell you the size of the talent pool you're recruiting from.
Pair current employment with wages to understand whether demand exceeds supply.
Which occupations have the largest workforces today?
Healthcare, technology, and management occupations consistently rank among the largest.
Registered nurses, software developers, and general managers are typically in the top tier.
Learn More...
The specific ranking varies by state—healthcare dominates some states while tech leads others.
Use the tool to see exact rankings for your target geography.
Large workforces mean more candidates but also more competing employers.
How can I use this for hiring decisions?
Large employment counts indicate deep talent pools with more potential candidates.
Compare employment with wages to understand labor market tightness.
Learn More...
High employment + high wages signals strong demand—you'll need competitive offers.
High employment + low wages may indicate oversupply—easier hiring but potentially retention risk.
Thin labor markets (low employment) require premium pay or relocation support.
Does this show actual recovery data from 2020-2023?
No, this tool shows current snapshot data from the latest BLS OEWS survey.
For historical time series, see BLS Current Employment Statistics at bls.gov/ces.
Learn More...
OEWS provides annual employment estimates at a point in time, not monthly trends.
The current data reflects where the labor market has arrived after recovery.
Historical context is provided in the article, but the tool focuses on actionable current data.
How do employment levels vary by state?
State employment reflects population, industry mix, and economic conditions.
States that gained population since 2020 now show higher employment in many occupations.
Learn More...
Texas, Florida, and Arizona saw significant population and employment growth.
Coastal states still dominate in tech and finance, but the gap has narrowed.
Run the tool for multiple states to compare employment levels in your target occupations.
How often is this data updated?
OEWS is released annually with a May reference period.
The tool is updated when new BLS survey data becomes available.
Learn More...
BLS typically publishes OEWS results in the spring following the May survey period.
Check the survey year displayed in the tool footnote for the data vintage.
For more frequent labor market updates, see the monthly Employment Situation report at bls.gov.
In summary
The labor market has recovered and restructured since 2020. This tool shows you current employment levels by occupation—where workers are concentrated today—so you can make hiring decisions based on current market reality.
Use employment data alongside wage benchmarks to understand which occupations face talent shortages versus oversupply, and target your recruiting strategy accordingly.
Ready to turn employment data into hiring strategy?
- Wage Benchmarking Tool
- Employment Distribution Tracker
- Schedule a consultation for workforce planning support
