This data story explores the relationship between Department of Defense procurement spending and unemployment rates.

At the October 26th Super Committee hearing, some lawmakers discussed closing budget deficits by reducing military spending. Critics of this proposal point out that military contracts create work. Others argue that military programs are the least efficient means for creating jobs via government spending. Using the NPP database to get 2010 numbers on per-person Department of Defense procurement spending, we found no correlation between that number and lower state unemployment.

View Department of Defense procurement spending and unemployment rates, as well as notes and sources, here. Both datasets are available at the state and county levels.