Open to moving to a different state for a better job? If so, new WalletHub analysis highlights which U.S. states offer the best and worst employment opportunities.
WalletHub compared all 50 states across 34 measures of job-market strength and economic health, including unemployment, employment growth, income and employee benefits. The personal finance website’s “data set ranges from employment growth to the median annual income to the average commute time.”
“Living in one of the best states for jobs can provide stable conditions for the long-term, helping you ride out the fluctuations that the economy will experience in the future,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a statement. “The best states for jobs make it easier for residents to find and retain jobs, and employers in these states also offer very competitive compensation and benefits. In addition, the top states are great places for people looking to raise a family, ranking among the best states for working parents.”
Which states ranked highest, and which ranked at the lowest? Here’s what the analysis found.
Best States for Jobs
Nebraska ranked No. 1 overall, with a 3% unemployment rate, the fourth-highest employment growth rate and the third-best job security. It also ranked fourth for the share of workers with private health insurance.
North Dakota placed second, with a 2.6% unemployment rate and an average commute of about 17 minutes, the second-shortest in the country. Minnesota ranked third, with a cost-of-living-adjusted median household income of nearly $88,000.
The 10 best states for jobs are:
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- South Dakota
- New Hampshire
- Washington
- Maine
- Texas
- Hawaii
- Tennessee
Worst States for Jobs
West Virginia ranked last overall, with Oregon, Pennsylvania and Florida rounding out the bottom four.
The results also show that a strong economic environment does not necessarily translate into a strong job market. Florida ranked 14th for its economic environment but 49th for its job market.
The 10 worst states for jobs, listed from lowest to highest in the overall rankings, are:
- West Virginia
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
How the States Were Ranked
WalletHub evaluated states using 34 indicators across two categories: job market and economic environment. The measures included job opportunities, employment growth, unemployment, income, job security, employee benefits and commute times.
The overall rankings reflect performance across the indicators rather than any single measure, such as salary or unemployment.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected] or on X @athompsonUSAT.
Reporting by Anthony Thompson, USA TODAY. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
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