Best & Worst States for Jobs in 2024 (2024)

Job hunting is hard work between searching for employment openings, updating résumés, contacting references and preparing for interviews. Luckily, the U.S. labor market remains strong with the addition of 150,000 jobs in October 2023, and the unemployment rate remains well below pandemic levels at 3.9%.

Not knowing where to look can make finding a job difficult, so narrowing your search area is crucial. Since that part requires research, WalletHub did the homework to help you focus on the most important task: finding your dream position in a place you’ll love.

To determine the most attractive states for employment, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 34 key indicators of job-market strength and economic health. Our data set ranges from employment growth to the median annual income to the average commute time.

For a more local breakdown of the job market, check out WalletHub’s ranking of the Best Places to Find a Job.

“The past few years have been volatile for job seekers, going from massive unemployment all the way to worker shortages. Living in one of the best states for jobs can help you not just secure a career, but also improve your chances of getting competitive wages, good benefits and high job security.”

Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents

Main FindingsIn-Depth Look at Top StatesAsk the ExpertsMethodology

Main Findings

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Best States to Find a Job

Overall Rank	State	Total Score	Job Market Rank	Economic Environment Rank
1	Washington	68.04	8	1
2	Virginia	66.66	1	22
3	Utah	64.53	4	8
4	Vermont	64.19	3	13
5	Florida	61.56	9	6
6	Maryland	61.44	2	39
7	South Dakota	61.35	11	7
8	Colorado	61.33	7	15
9	Massachusetts	59.82	10	17
10	Rhode Island	59.73	16	9
11	New Hampshire	59.53	18	5
12	Minnesota	59.03	17	11
13	North Dakota	58.65	19	10
14	Maine	58.42	5	33
15	Texas	57.82	28	3
16	New Jersey	57.70	40	2
17	South Carolina	57.63	6	34
18	Wyoming	57.18	23	12
19	Nebraska	57.08	14	24
20	Wisconsin	56.55	13	27
21	Missouri	56.49	12	28
22	Michigan	55.90	15	29
23	Delaware	55.64	22	21
24	Tennessee	55.60	37	4
25	Kansas	54.24	24	25
26	Arizona	53.52	21	30
27	Iowa	53.32	20	32
28	New York	53.06	34	18
29	New Mexico	52.43	36	20
30	California	52.10	39	19
31	Ohio	51.19	25	35
32	Connecticut	51.10	43	14
33	Nevada	50.61	41	23
34	Oklahoma	49.64	38	31
35	Alaska	49.10	46	16
36	North Carolina	48.50	27	42
37	Georgia	48.19	29	41
38	Montana	48.10	35	38
39	Hawaii	47.70	26	44
40	Illinois	47.60	45	26
41	Idaho	46.74	42	37
42	Alabama	46.62	30	43
43	Arkansas	45.89	31	45
44	Oregon	44.38	33	46
45	Indiana	44.23	44	40
46	Pennsylvania	44.04	32	47
47	Louisiana	43.87	47	36
48	Mississippi	36.33	49	48
49	Kentucky	34.16	48	50
50	West Virginia	33.61	50	49

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

In-Depth Look at the Best States for Jobs in 2023

Washington

Washington is the best state for jobs overall, and it’s packed with potential for job-seekers, from busy tech hubs like Seattle to its more rural areas. In addition to being one of the few states that doesn’t charge its workers income tax, it also offers high pay and robust employment protections.

The Evergreen State takes care of its workers, with less than 4.2% of employed residents living below the poverty line – the fifth-lowest percentage in the nation. That’s due in large part to the fact that Washingtonians earn one of the highest average monthly starting salaries, at $4,332.

To top things off, Washington ranks very high when it comes to worker protections – things like paid sick leave, equal pay regardless of gender, measures against sexual harassment and more.

Virginia

Virginia is known as the “birthplace of presidents,” with eight of its residents attaining the highest job in the land. While you might not land a career that good, Old Dominion is still the second-best state for jobs, and it’s a great place to be if you want to earn a high salary while also having an excellent work environment. The median household income in Virginia is an impressive $78,726, and the state has a high number of job opportunities at 4-star+ companies relative to its labor force.

If you live in Virginia, you can also stress less about losing your job, as the state has the second-highest job security rate in the country.

Utah

While Utah is the third-best state for jobs, it has an advantage over the top two states: an unemployment rate that’s significantly below the national average. Plus, when Utahans are unemployed, it doesn’t tend to last for long. In fact, only 0.6% of the labor force has been unemployed for 15 weeks or longer, the fourth-lowest percentage in the nation.

Tired of the 40-hour work week? People in Utah only work 37.1 hours a week on average, giving the state the shortest work week in the nation. That doesn’t stop people from earning high salaries though, as the median annual household income is $76,685.

Note: Household income and monthly salary figures are adjusted for the cost of living index.

Job Opportunities

Most

1. New Hampshire
2. North Dakota
3. Vermont
4. South Dakota
5. Maine

Ask the Experts

The future of U.S. jobs is impacted by many factors, including the economic environment and innovations. To gauge the possible effects of each and find ways to strengthen the labor market, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What types of jobs do you think are most threatened by automation/the rise of robots? What jobs are least threatened?
What fields are expected to experience the highest rate of job growth in the next 10 years?
What can we expect from the job market in 2024?
How can local policymakers help diversify and strengthen local economies?
Are there any models for re-training displaced workers that have proven successful?

Ask the Experts

Alejandro Gutierrez-Li
Assistant Professor & Extension Economist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics – North Carolina State University
Read More

Joanne Song McLaughlin
Ph.D. – Director of Undergraduate Studies; Director of Master’s Program; Associate Professor, Department of Economics – University at Buffalo
Read More

Jay Walker
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Economics; Graduate Program Director, MA in Economics; Fulbright Scholar (Chile 2020), Strome College of Business – Old Dominion University
Read More

Dr. Ranjit Nair
Ph.D. – Alvin R. Calman Endowed Chair, Associate Professor, School of Business and Computer Science – Caldwell University
Read More

Favour Olarewaju
Ph.D. Student, Department of Economics, Fogelman College of Business and Economics – University of Memphis
Read More

Swarup Joshi
Assistant Professor of Economics, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts – Loyola Marymount University
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the best states for jobs, WalletHub compared the 50 states across two key dimensions: Job Market and Economic Environment. We assigned a heavier weight to the former, considering the factors in that category most heavily influence a job seeker’s decision regarding relocation for employment.

We evaluated the two dimensions using 34 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for job seekers.

We then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Job Market – Total Points: 60

Job Opportunities: Double Weight (~3.75 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Number of Job Openings per Total Population in Labor Force – Unemployment Rate.
Employment Growth: Triple Weight (~5.63 Points)
Note: This metric measures the rate of annual job growth (adjusted by the working-age population growth).
Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~3.75 Points)
Share of Civilian Labor Force Unemployed 15 Weeks or Longer: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Double Weight (~3.75 Points)
Industry Variety: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Employment Outlook: Triple Weight (~5.63 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the Gallup's Job Creation Index.
Automation Risk: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of jobs at risk for automation.
Job Security: Triple Weight (~5.63 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: (Number of Employees in July 2023 – Number of Employees in July 2022) / Number of Employees in July 2022.
Share of Work-Related Stressed Tweets: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This metric is based on PlushCare’s analysis of retrieved geotagged tweets from 340 major cities in the U.S.
Share of Engaged Workers: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This metric is based on Gallup’s “State of the American Workplace” report. Gallup defines engaged employees as those who are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.
Share of Discouraged Workers: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of people marginally attached to the labor force who did not actively look for work in the prior 4 weeks for reasons such as thinks no work available, could not find work, lacks schooling or training, employer thinks too young or old, and other types of discrimination.
Employer-Based Retirement Access & Participation: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Employee Benefits: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of employees with private health insurance.
Presence of Work-Share Programs: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of state programs that allow employers to temporarily reduce employees' work hours instead of laying them off during economic downturns.
Presence of State Nondiscrimination Laws & Policies: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of state laws and policies that protect workers against discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender.
State’s Statute on Hiring Based on Salary History: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of salary history bans in a state.
Worker Protection Score: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: The policies include:
Protections for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding.
Mandates for equal pay, pay secrecy.
Leave for non-FMLA workers because of less time on the job; leave longer than federal FMLA.
Mandate for paid sick leave.
Protections around flexible scheduling, reporting pay, split shift pay, advance notice.
Protections around sexual harassment.
Share of Part-Time Employees: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of part-time employees for every 100 full-time employees. A greater share of full-time employees is ideal.
Availability of Internships: Double Weight (~3.75 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of internships per total civilian population aged 16 to 24 years in the labor force.
4+ Star Job Opportunities per Total People in Labor Force: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of job opportunities at 4+ star rated companies on Glasssdoor.com per the total number of people in the labor force.
Disability-Friendliness of Employers: Full Weight (~1.88 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of persons with disabilities who are employed.

Economic Environment – Total Points: 40

Median Annual Income: Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted by the cost of living.
Monthly Average Starting Salary: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Share of Workers Living in Poverty: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Average Length of Work Week (in Hours): Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Share of Workers with Multiple Jobs: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Average Commute Time (in Minutes): Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Commuter-Friendly Jobs (Number of Jobs Accessible by a 30-Minute Transit Ride): Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Earned Income-Tax Credit: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of state earned income tax credit.
State Income-Tax Burden for Low-Income Earners (as Share of Income): Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
State Income-Tax Burden for Middle-Income Earners (as Share of Income): Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
State Income-Tax Burden for High-Income Earners (as Share of Income): Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
Working Moms & Dads Rankings: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “” & “” reports.

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Indeed.com, Gallup-Healthways, United Health Foundation, PlushCare, The Pew Charitable Trusts, National Conference of State Legislatures, Chegg, Council for Community and Economic Research, Tax Credits for Workers and Their Families, ITEP, Movement Advancement Project, The Brookings Institution, Industry Dive, Oxfam America, Glassdoor, The Center for Neighborhood Technology and WalletHub research.

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