A new analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data finds New Hampshire’s economy is number one yet again in New England, with one of the highest job creation rates in the entire Northeast.

Joseph Politano, a Financial Management Analyst at the BLS, also writes about economics and labor markets. On Tuesday, he posted a chart showing the change in nonfarm payrolls by state since January 2020, when the COVID pandemic hit.

“Forty-five states and Puerto Rico have now seen job levels completely recover from COVID, with many vastly exceeding 2020 payrolls,” Politano wrote, noting that the fastest growers included Idaho, up 12.7 percent since January 2o2o, Utah (11.7 percent), and Nevada (9.9 percent).

Among the six New England states, New Hampshire had the biggest surge in payrolls, up three percent. While that doesn’t compare favorably with Florida (up 9.6 percent), it’s the best in the region and far better than Massachusetts and Vermont. They’re still negative on job growth by -0.1 percent and -0.4 percent, respectively.

Maine closely trails the Granite State at 2.8 percent growth, followed by Rhode Island (1.2 percent) and Connecticut (0.6 percent).

The only state in the entire Northeast Corridor with higher job growth was New Jersey, at 4.4 percent.

This is just the latest ranking to place New Hampshire at the top of the economic heap in New England. Or, in some categories, the entire nation.

In just the past few months, the Granite State has been ranked number one in the best return on investment for taxpayer dollars and the most economic freedom. U.S. News and World Report ranked New Hampshire the best state in New England to live in and the second-best in the entire country. (Utah is number one.)

And New Hampshire has consistently had among the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S., currently tied for the fourth lowest at 2.5 percent.

Why does New Hampshire consistently outpace its bigger and wealthier neighbors like Massachusetts and New York? Ross Connelly, northeast regional director with Americans for Prosperity, credits the “pro-growth policies of Gov. Chris Sununu and the legislature.”

“They are directly responsible for this success,” Connelly said. “The other New England states should take note: reducing barriers in government, whether that be regulations or taxes, helps all citizens.”

The gap between the performance of New Hampshire and Massachusetts has emerged as an issue in the race for Granite State governor.

“Because of our focus on lower taxes, fiscal responsibility and freedom, New Hampshire is the best state in New England for small businesses to thrive, grow, and create jobs,” Ayotte told NHJournal. “These new jobs numbers further prove that the New Hampshire model works — while the Massachusetts model leaves our neighbors falling behind. As Governor, I’ll keep us on the path to prosperity and stop any effort to MASS up our state with higher taxes and reckless spending.”

Democrat Joyce Craig, on the another hand, has endorsed Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) as a campaign ally.

Republican Chuck Morse is reminding voters that, as the former state Senate president, he played a key role in the tax cuts and regulatory relief that helped New Hampshire prosper over the past eight years.

“These rankings are no accident, and they are not luck either,” Morse told NHJournal. “They’re because of the conservative policies we put in place.”

“For nearly a decade, I fought on the front lines to propel New Hampshire to the top in every category,” Morse added. “And as governor, I will continue to keep our state on the right track forward.”

Asked why they think New Hampshire’s economic achievement is outpacing progressive Massachusetts, both Craig and her fellow Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, declined to comment.

Michael Skelton, president and CEO of the Business & Industry Association, spreads the credit around, including to the business owners themselves.

“The job recovery numbers are a testament to Granite State employers’ commitment to their employees and the state,” said Skelton. “New Hampshire’s low and stable taxes contribute to the success of businesses as does the state’s pragmatic regulatory structure.”

New Hampshire’s population growth in recent years is the second highest in New England after Maine. Skelton said while that is good news, there are challenges to future economic expansion. BIA’s top public policy priorities include continuing to address New Hampshire’s workforce shortage, the lack of housing for workers, and the state’s high energy costs.

“BIA is committed to leading efforts to solve these challenges to build an even stronger competitive business climate and prosperous economic future for New Hampshire,” Skelton said.

At a candidate forum hosted by the National Federation of Independent Business last week, Warmington joined the two Republicans in opposing any business tax hikes. (Craig was a no-show.)

Asked about New Hampshire’s success, the NFIB’s Bruce Berke calls it a statewide effort.

“Remember that famous saying about ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people’? Well, in New Hampshire, we mean it,” Berke said. “Our public officials talk to and work with community and business leaders to find solutions to challenges. They do their best to keep spending down, therefore tax rates can be minimal allowing investment, growth and start-ups to be confident going forward.

“It’s not rocket science: communicating and working in a logical manner can produce positive results.”

Michael Scott Davis, born 1972, of Concord was arrested on a bench warrant at 8:04 p.m. on June 7 on receiving stolen property-less than $1,000 and credit card fraud-less than $1,000 charges after an incident or investigation at 12 Loudon Road.

Melissa Lee Moscaritolo, born 1977, of Contoocook was arrested at 12:59 p.m. on June 7 on a warrant after an incident or investigation on Horseshoe Pond Lane.

Angela M. Spataro, born 1992, of Concord was arrested at 6:05 p.m. on June 7 on a bench warrant after an incident or investigation on Loudon Road.

Jesse L. Cleasby, born 1985, of Concord received a summons at 1 a.m. on June 7 on a bench warrant after an incident or investigation in Bicentennial Square.

Katrina Lynn Gilbert, born 1985, of Northfield was arrested at 1:55 p.m. on June 6 on felony receiving stolen property, false statement-resident tax, two unsworn falsification, and two anti-theft laws; possess altered title charges. She was arrested after an incident or investigation on Elm Street.

Grant Boyd Gentzel, 20, of Concord received a summons at 12:05 p.m. on June 6 on a criminal mischief charge after an incident or investigation at Concord Hospital at 250 Pleasant St.

Scott N. Schmid, 38, of Concord was arrested at 12:24 p.m. on June 6 on a bench warrant after an incident or investigation at the Royal Gardens apartment complex.

Dalton J. Stendor, 22, of Frasiers Way in Tilton was arrested on stalking and violation of protective order charges at 11:17 a.m. on June 6. An officer sitting in their cruiser on Sheep Davis Road saw a blue Ford Fusion with an expired inspection sticker near Autumn Drive, an affidavit said. The vehicle was pulled over on the Interstate 393 westbound onramp. A woman who was driving was checked while the officer noticed a man in the passenger front seat. The check found the driver to have protective orders in the computer involving Stendor, the officer wrote. The car was registered to him, too, the report stated. When the officer returned to the car, they accused the man, later identified as Stendor, to be “slumped over with his face partially covered and his hands in his sweatshirt pockets … clearly attempting to hid from my view of him,” the affidavit stated. The officer accused Stendor of “pretending to be asleep” and then waking up and looking at the officer. The officer said Stendor matched his license photo but when asked his name, “Jonathan Burns,” the affidavit said. When asked his birthdate, he said, “I don’t remember, it’s been a really long day,” the officer wrote. Later, the officer accused him of saying, “OK, I’m Dalton,” and after checking his license and confirming the protection order out of Franklin District Court, he was arrested, and taken straight to the county jail.

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Kyle Petty believes the switch to wet weather tires during last weekend’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway ironically made for some better racing.

The NASCAR Cup Series tried to move up the start time to avoid Mother Nature interfering in the USA Today 301 on Sunday, but it was to no avail, as rain and lightning rolled through the area with 82 laps to go. The red flag came out, and with the way it was down-pouring in Loudon, hope seemed to be lost.

Then, in a twist we haven’t seen really ever in the Cup Series on an oval, the decision was made to put on the wet weather tires, and NASCAR was able to finish the race. Christopher Bell was the major beneficiary, as he was able to take the lead and hold onto it.

Afterwards, Petty elaborated on why the racing at the end of the race proved why wet weather tires can work, believing the final 82 laps plus overtime made for one of the better races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in quite some time.

“New Hampshire. It never rains in New Hampshire. It always rains in New Hampshire when there’s a NASCAR race, and this weekend was no exception. But I thought the rain and the wet track made it one of the best New Hampshire races that I’ve seen in a long, long time,” Petty explained. “Christopher Bell did a masterful job of maintaining an understanding of what the track was doing, and understanding how he needed to change his positions on the racetrack.

“Now, I go back, It’s a wet weather tire. It is not a rain tire people. We didn’t see any windshield wipers on these cars. It’s a wet weather tire, and I want to throw something at you, in wet conditions, the track gets slick. Slick track means throttle, means driver, means good racing. Let’s just put those three together right there. What we saw though, was these guys were running three to four seconds slower when the rain came and the wet track came than what they were under normal conditions, and it didn’t change the racing. Running slower made the racing better. It went from a two, maybe a three groove racetrack, to a six groove racetrack. Those guys were on the apron with their left sides in the grass almost when the weather came. That’s because that’s what weather tires do. They allow you to run in other places. They allow the racetrack to open up.”

It was once thought NASCAR could only use the wet weather tires at a road course, but Sunday’s action has proven there’s many more possibilities than that. Kyle Petty and the rest of the NASCAR world loved the action, and now it’s only a matter of when, not if we’ll see them again.