Map shows best states to find a job

A report has found that three of the top four states in the U.S. to find a job are in New England, whereas workers are still struggling to find jobs in Indiana, Louisiana, and West Virginia.

The study conducted by WalletHub found that the number one state in the U.S. for people to find a job is New Hampshire, followed by Vermont, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts.

Although the jobs study does not take politics into account, eight out of the top 10 states to find a job went for Kamala Harris. Whereas, nine out of the bottom 10 states to find a job went for Donald Trump in the 2024 election which was defined by economic anxiety.

Per WalletHub’s findings, New Hampshire has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, at 2 percent.

New Hampshire also has a job availability increase of 1.7 percent annually, and the seventh best job security rate in the country. And the lowest portion of workers living in poverty, demonstrating that workers in New Hampshire are paid a living wage.

New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen spoke to Newsweek about how the Biden Administration has assisted with job creation in her state, saying: “I’ve long worked to support and strengthen New Hampshire’s economy, like my work on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that’s investing in our roads, bridges, broadband and so much more, creating good-paying jobs and helping our economy grow.”

Senator Shaheen spoke to how technology is one of New Hampshire’s predominant industries, saying: “I was also proud to support the ReGen Valley Tech Hub in Manchester that will not only to drive innovation in biofabrication and create good paying jobs, but ensure that New Hampshire emerges as a new industrial powerhouse and global competitor. That said, there’s more work to be done.”

Senator Shaheen added that the state needs to continue to work for its citizens to ensure that it remains top of the leaderboard, telling Newsweek: “If New Hampshire is going to continue to thrive and remain the best state to find a job and plant roots, we need to do more to provide the affordable housing and child care options that workers and families need.”

The second-highest-rated state for employment is New Hampshire’s neighbor, Vermont. Tourism is also a key industry in Vermont, as well as manufacturing, and agriculture.

The second lowest-rated state for finding a job is Louisiana, whose predominant industries are oil, natural gas, healthcare, agriculture, and fishing.

Regine Williams, Public Information Director at the Louisiana Workforce Commission, spoke to Newsweek about how a large barrier to workforce participation in the state is the lack of access to opportunities, services, and resources.

She explained: “Challenges in Louisiana include the difficulty of navigating services and the logistical barriers many residents face, such as limited access to affordable childcare or reliable transportation. These issues disproportionately impact rural and underserved areas, where opportunities may be harder to reach.”

Williams told Newsweek that the state is working to address these challenges, saying: “The state is working to create a more unified and integrated system to help individuals and businesses easily access workforce, education, and public assistance programs. By reducing fragmentation, we can better connect people with the tools they need to succeed.”

She explained how the state is trying to increase labor participation, by saying: “Through partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and sister agencies, the state is focused on removing barriers like childcare and transportation while actively re-engaging individuals who are currently out of the workforce.

“Employers are essential partners in this effort. The state is working closely with the business community to develop workforce solutions that respond directly to their needs, ensuring economic growth and job creation across Louisiana.”

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