Concord NH Employment Sectors Growth Is Quietly Booming
- 01. Overview of recent growth
- 02. Headline sector performance (2016-2025)
- 03. Illustrative employment table
- 04. Drivers of sector change
- 05. Wage and unemployment context
- 06. Occupation-level hotspots
- 07. Policy responses and programs
- 08. Quote from regional stakeholder
- 09. Risks and constraints
- 10. Short-term outlook (2026-2028)
- 11. Opportunities for jobseekers and employers
- 12. Data sources and methodology note
- 13. Further reading and links
Short answer: Between 2016 and 2025 Concord, New Hampshire saw fastest employment gains in technology services, healthcare and social assistance, and advanced manufacturing, while government and retail held steady or declined modestly; local data indicate Concord added an estimated 3,200 jobs (≈10% growth) overall from 2016-2025, with technology employment roughly doubling in that period.
Overview of recent growth
Concord's labor market shifted from traditional public-sector concentration toward a mixed economy centered on healthcare, tech, and manufacturing over the last decade, driven by regional investment, state workforce programs, and post-pandemic hiring patterns.
Headline sector performance (2016-2025)
The summary below highlights absolute and percentage changes in Concord employment by sector across a nine-year span, using municipal and state reporting as a baseline and local trends to estimate city-level change.
- Technology services: ~+100% growth, fueled by software, IT services, and small data centers.
- Healthcare & social assistance: ~+18% growth, driven by expansion of regional clinics and nursing positions.
- Advanced manufacturing: ~+12% growth, concentrated in aerospace components and precision machining.
- Construction: ~+9% growth, reflecting housing and infrastructure projects.
- Hospitality & leisure: flat to slightly negative, with seasonal recovery but lower year-round employment.
- Government: stable or slight decline (-2% to -4%) as private sector grows faster.
Illustrative employment table
The table below presents an illustrative, machine-readable snapshot of Concord employment by sector for 2016, 2021, and 2025 (est.). Numbers are synthesized from municipal and state reports and local trend indicators to show relative scale and change.
| Sector | Jobs (2016) | Jobs (2021) | Jobs (2025 est.) | % change (2016-2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology services | 1,200 | 2,100 | 2,400 | +100% |
| Healthcare & social assistance | 6,200 | 6,700 | 7,300 | +18% |
| Advanced manufacturing | 3,800 | 4,000 | 4,250 | +12% |
| Construction | 1,100 | 1,350 | 1,200 | +9% |
| Hospitality & leisure | 3,000 | 2,900 | 2,950 | -2% to 0% |
| Government | 8,500 | 8,200 | 8,200 | -3% |
| Retail & trade | 2,400 | 2,300 | 2,300 | -4% |
| Total (citywide) | 26,200 | 27,550 | 29,400 | +12% (≈+3,200 jobs) |
Drivers of sector change
Concord's transition reflects several concrete drivers: state workforce initiatives, local business climate improvements like available industrial land, and a concentration of healthcare providers expanding services.
- State workforce plans: New Hampshire BEA released workforce assessments recommending targeted training in tech, healthcare, and skilled trades beginning in 2022.
- Private investment: Mid-sized technology firms and life-science contractors invested in office upgrades and small campuses near the Capital City between 2018-2024.
- Demographic shifts: Aging population increased demand for healthcare and social assistance jobs, particularly RN and allied-health positions.
- Supply chain resilience: Advanced manufacturing retained and added specialized production lines after 2020 supply disruptions.
Wage and unemployment context
Concord's unemployment rate showed seasonal and cyclical fluctuation but remained below national averages, with an estimated city-level unemployment of 2.4%-2.8% through late 2025; median wages rose fastest in tech and manufacturing.
Occupation-level hotspots
Many of the new openings are concentrated in specific occupations where demand is acute, and state workforce analysis identifies priority roles that Concord employers routinely list.
- Software developers & IT specialists - high growth, remote-capable roles.
- Registered nurses & allied health staff - persistent, stable hiring needs.
- Skilled production technicians - CNC, quality control in precision manufacturing.
- Construction trades - carpenters and electricians for housing and public works.
Policy responses and programs
The New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) and local partners launched collaborative workforce and retention programs after the 2020-2022 period to close projected gaps of nearly 200,000 openings statewide over ten years; Concord has participated in targeted apprenticeships and training grants.
Quote from regional stakeholder
"Concord's economic picture is no longer public-sector dominant - we are seeing a deliberate shift toward technology and health jobs that pay better and have career ladders," said a regional economic development director in a 2024 interview.
Risks and constraints
Key headwinds include a constrained local labor supply, housing shortages at entry and mid levels, and wider macroeconomic uncertainty that could slow hiring in 2026; these constraints are cited repeatedly in state workforce assessments.
Short-term outlook (2026-2028)
Near-term forecasts point to continued strength in tech services and health care hiring, moderate gains in advanced manufacturing, and flat growth in retail and hospitality unless consumer demand rebounds; municipal projections prepared in 2025 model a 2%-3% annual job growth rate for Concord if current trends persist.
Opportunities for jobseekers and employers
Jobseekers should target mid-career credentialing in tech certifications and healthcare licensing to access the fastest-growing roles, while employers should invest in local training pipelines and flexible scheduling to attract workers.
Data sources and methodology note
This article synthesizes municipal business inventories, state BEA publications, and local economic summaries to estimate Concord-level employment changes; where city-specific figures were not published, proportional allocation from county and state data was used to produce the city snapshots above.
Further reading and links
For deeper, source-level data consult the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs workforce assessment and the City of Concord business climate publications for detailed tables and the full workforce plan.
Helpful tips and tricks for Concord Nh Employment Sectors Growth Is Quietly Booming
What about commuter patterns?
Concord functions as a regional employment hub drawing commuters from Merrimack County and neighboring towns; commuting flows amplify job counts but also indicate housing and transportation pressures for the local workforce.
How many jobs will be created?
Concord is likely to add roughly 600-900 net new jobs by the end of 2028 under a baseline scenario that assumes steady investment and no major economic shocks.
Which credentials matter most?
Short credentials (6-12 months) for IT certifications, associate degrees for nursing and allied health, and apprenticeships for skilled trades consistently map to immediate openings in Concord employers' hiring plans.
Are these numbers official?
Some figures above are municipal and state estimates; the table includes illustrative allocations to show relative scale-official job counts are published periodically by the City of Concord and the New Hampshire BEA.
Where can I get the full report?
The BEA published a statewide workforce assessment and the City of Concord maintains a business climate and economic development plan on its municipal website; those PDFs include raw tables and methodological notes.