No college degree? Here are the best and worst places in the US for a job

U.S. employers – both public and private – are increasingly ditching college degrees as a job requirement across an array of roles amid a nationwide shortage of workers, but the opportunities for good-paying jobs can vary greatly depending on where a candidate lives.

That is according to a new study ranking the best and worst job markets in the U.S. for job-seekers that do not hold degrees, indicating some areas are lagging behind in catching up with the trend.

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Indeed, CashNetUSA found that New York is “by far the worst state to look for a job” without a degree, with 21.94 local nondegree holders for every open position. 

WORST FOR NON-DEGREE JOB SEEKERS

#1 NEW YORK  

Specifically, New York City was named the worst city in the nation for finding a job without a degree, with 41.48 non-degree holders for each available job.

YOU DON’T NEED TO GO TO COLLEGE TO FIND YOUR DREAM JOB, ‘DEGREE FREE’ ENTREPRENEUR SAYS

#2 CALIFORNIA 

California is the second-worst state for finding a job without a college degree, with 13.58 non-degree holders per entry-level position.

The report suggested both states earned their rankings due to stiff competition in their respective job markets, noting that New York City is the most attractive city in the country for younger professionals to work, while California was named the best place to work last year by Oxfam.

HIGHER ED IS FACING A ‘GIANT RECKONING’ AS BLUE-COLLAR JOBS PREVAIL, MIKE ROWE WARNS

#3 NEW JERSEY

New Jersey was ranked the third-toughest state to find a job without a degree, with 12.59 nondegree holders for every open entry-level position.

America’s Career Coach Ken Coleman sheds light on the cost of college and why companies are removing degree requirements, and reacts to a Gen-Z TikToker going viral for expressing concern over finding a job.

BEST STATES FOR NON-DEGREE JOB SEEKERS 

#1 MAINE 

On the other end of the spectrum, the state ranked No. 1 for non-degree jobseekers was Maine, with only (3.05) non-graduates per entry-level job. 

#2 WEST VIRGINIA (3.37)

#3 SOUTH CAROLINA (3.49)

Although the competition can be stiff in large cities with highly-educated workforces, the study found many cities in the U.S. where those without a college degree can find well-paying jobs.

BEST CITIES FOR NON-DEGREE JOB SEEKERS 

#1 FORT MYERS 

The top city in the U.S. for job-seekers without a degree is Fort Myers, Florida, where there are 1.2 nondegree holders per open entry-level role. 

#2 Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

#3 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

#4 Annapolis, Maryland 

#5 Scottsdale, Arizona

Find more updates on this story at FOXBusiness.com.