All employment is not the same. Median income in Wyoming and New Jersey are vastly different. You also have to consider the general economic conditions of each state, region, county, etc.
I think a good way to look at it is Republican economies tend to de like a car stuck in the mud. No matter how hard a worker revs the engine it’s hard to get anywhere. Hence why actual productivity is lower in Republican areas. That more speaks to policy than people, though.
Also, it is important to note unemployment does tend to be higher in urban areas but long term unemployment and lower workforce participation tends to be higher outside of urban areas. When those adjustments are made it makes a much clearer picture.
Depending on area, another factor to consider is capital investment, self sufficiency, and surplus production, such as food and energy production from Red areas to Red and Blue areas. While Liberals love to cry “Red State Socialism”, the fact is, Blue and Red states, counties, cities, and inner cities benefit from Red area low cost productivity, even if some large projects were initially subsidized by the US Government.
Again, critical products such as food and electricity, are better overproduced than underproduced, making incentives for overproduction a valid Government response.
Shall we now consider the effects of government subsidizing unproductive people having babies on the long term Leftist agenda, other than obvious vote production?