Five charts compare Democrats and Republicans on job creation

FROM TIME to time a chart circulates showing that virtually every job new in America over the past 35 years was created under a Democratic president (see chart 1). Often, the chart goes viral, and Democrats are only too happy to boast of their job-creating prowess. Since 1989 a mere 1.3m jobs have been created in net terms with Republicans in the Oval Office—despite the party’s reputation for being more business-friendly. With Democrats in power a net 49.4m jobs have been added. Defined narrowly—just considering monthly employment figures—the chart is indeed accurate. But a closer look at the data paints a different picture, showing a less marked contrast.