The labor market is showing signs of improvement recently. The national labor force participation rate is slightly above pre-pandemic levels, at 62.7% as of March 2024, and the unemployment rate is just 3.8%. Plus, employees have been getting progressively less inclined to leave their employers, allowing companies to focus on filling new positions rather than simply backfilling them from employee turnover. Despite these positive statistics, though, many businesses are still facing labor shortages, finding it difficult to hire new employees.
Within the U.S., workers are easier to find in some states than others. To see where employers are struggling the most in hiring, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on the rate of job openings for the latest month and the last 12 months.
Main Findings
States Where Employers Are Struggling the Most in Hiring
Rank | State | Job Openings Rate (Latest Month) | Job Openings Rate (Last 12 Months) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Alaska | 7.20% | 7.41% |
2 | Montana | 6.70% | 6.54% |
3 | South Carolina | 6.40% | 6.82% |
4 | New Mexico | 6.40% | 6.47% |
5 | Colorado | 6.30% | 6.60% |
6 | Maryland | 6.40% | 6.38% |
7 | Delaware | 6.30% | 6.38% |
8 | Louisiana | 6.10% | 6.43% |
9 | Oklahoma | 6.20% | 6.21% |
10 | Mississippi | 5.90% | 6.53% |
11 | West Virginia | 5.70% | 6.88% |
12 | Virginia | 6.00% | 6.23% |
13 | Rhode Island | 6.10% | 5.76% |
14 | Wyoming | 5.80% | 6.11% |
15 | Illinois | 5.90% | 5.90% |
16 | North Dakota | 5.80% | 6.01% |
17 | South Dakota | 5.80% | 5.78% |
18 | Massachusetts | 5.60% | 6.16% |
19 | Maine | 5.60% | 6.15% |
20 | Pennsylvania | 5.80% | 5.74% |
21 | Georgia | 5.50% | 6.31% |
22 | Minnesota | 5.50% | 6.13% |
23 | Idaho | 5.60% | 5.88% |
24 | North Carolina | 5.40% | 6.18% |
25 | Tennessee | 5.30% | 6.34% |
26 | Missouri | 5.60% | 5.58% |
27 | Alabama | 5.50% | 5.78% |
28 | Kansas | 5.50% | 5.54% |
29 | Oregon | 5.50% | 5.48% |
30 | Kentucky | 5.30% | 5.84% |
30 | Wisconsin | 5.30% | 5.84% |
32 | Arkansas | 5.20% | 5.98% |
33 | Florida | 5.30% | 5.70% |
34 | New Hampshire | 5.20% | 5.78% |
35 | Vermont | 5.20% | 5.73% |
36 | Utah | 5.30% | 5.48% |
37 | Arizona | 5.20% | 5.61% |
38 | Nebraska | 5.30% | 5.35% |
39 | Ohio | 5.10% | 5.72% |
40 | Nevada | 5.10% | 5.65% |
41 | Texas | 5.00% | 5.42% |
42 | Indiana | 5.20% | 4.96% |
43 | Michigan | 5.00% | 5.33% |
44 | Iowa | 4.90% | 5.37% |
45 | Connecticut | 4.80% | 5.14% |
46 | New York | 4.90% | 4.53% |
47 | Washington | 4.80% | 4.70% |
48 | District of Columbia | 4.60% | 5.08% |
49 | Hawaii | 4.70% | 4.74% |
50 | New Jersey | 4.60% | 4.86% |
51 | California | 4.30% | 4.65% |
Ask the Experts
In order to get more insight into the current hiring trends, WalletHub turned to a panel of experts. You can click on the pictures of the experts below to read their bios and responses to the following key questions.
- Why do employers have difficulties in filling employment positions?
- What will be the economic impact, if any, of this trend?
- What are the best ways for employers to attract and retain employees?
- In your opinion, will this imbalance in the labor market continue to be an issue throughout all of 2024?
Ask the Experts
Methodology
WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on two metrics, the rate of job openings for the latest month and the last 12 months. These metrics are listed below with their corresponding weights. WalletHub then used these metrics to rank-order the states and the District from those that struggle the most with hiring to those that struggle the least.
- Job Openings Rate (Latest Month): Double Weight (~66.67 Points)
- Job Openings Rate (Last 12 Months): Full Weight (~33.33 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
WalletHub experts are widely quoted. Contact our media team to schedule an interview.