During the entire Great Recession NH has been doing far better than most of the nation without the benefit of an expansion of the oil or gas industries.
NH has done it by providing a secure place for businesses at a time when other New England states have been creating hostile environments for business. NH unemployment peaked at 6.7% in 2009. The recent rise in unemployment is being attributed to a growing state population driven by worker flight from neighboring states.
With a low corporate income tax, no personal income tax and stable property taxes, NH was the safe haven that dozens of companies ran to when Massachusetts, Vermont, NY and Connecticut went tax happy in 2009, 2010 and 2011 to balance bloated city and state budgets. Light manufacturing and financial services have been some of the largest employee gains for the state.
http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/new-hampshire/ 
