The U.S. is currently grappling with a massive labor shortage. Due largely to the pandemic, millions of workers have decided to retire, over 1 million mothers of school-age children have left the workforce, and there are about 2 million fewer working-age immigrants in the country. Meanwhile, American workers – primarily in low-wage sectors – continue to quit their jobs in record numbers in search of better opportunities.
Currently, the labor force participation rate – the share of Americans 16 and older either working or looking for work – stands at 61.9%, a low not seen in the pre-pandemic United States since 1977.
The upshot? Employers nationwide are struggling to fill open positions. As of the end of November 2021, the most recent month of available data, there were 10.6 million open jobs in the United States, a 56% increase from one year ago. Of course, the labor market is not uniform nationwide and varies by region, and in some states, employers are filling positions faster than others.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where job openings are surging. States are ranked by the change in the number of open jobs between October 2021 and November 2021.
Only a dozen states had fewer open positions at the end of November compared to the previous month, while in the vast majority of states, the number of open jobs has increased as the gap between jobs and workers to fill them is growing wider.
The national labor shortage is exacerbating supply chain issues and creating an existential challenge for many small businesses. Even major companies have been forced to reduce their hours of operation. Chain restaurants, including McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Chipotle, as well as major retailers like Macy’s, have cut hours of operations in some or all of their locations. Here is a look at the industry people are quitting the fastest.
Click here for the states with the most new job openings
50. Minnesota
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -26.7% (69,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 189,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.2% (13th lowest)
> Labor force size: 3,027,052 people
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49. Kentucky
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -20.8% (36,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 137,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.0% (24th lowest)
> Labor force size: 2,014,555 people
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48. Louisiana
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -16.0% (25,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 131,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.1% (17th highest)
> Labor force size: 2,068,808 people
47. Delaware
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -15.2% (5,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 28,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.0% (19th highest)
> Labor force size: 490,315 people
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46. Michigan
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -14.9% (58,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 330,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.2% (16th highest)
> Labor force size: 4,767,091 people
45. South Dakota
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -13.9% (5,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 31,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.1% (10th lowest)
> Labor force size: 470,079 people
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44. Florida
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -13.6% (99,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 631,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.6% (20th highest)
> Labor force size: 10,644,641 people
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43. Mississippi
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -12.9% (12,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 81,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.0% (24th lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,251,090 people
42. Georgia
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -12.3% (53,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 379,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.2% (13th lowest)
> Labor force size: 5,191,214 people
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41. Arkansas
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -10.5% (10,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 85,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.2% (13th lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,353,114 people
40. Oklahoma
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -10.2% (13,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 114,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.9% (7th lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,871,217 people
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39. Illinois
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -10.2% (43,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 379,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.5% (11th highest)
> Labor force size: 6,333,414 people
38. Maryland
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -10.0% (22,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 198,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.6% (9th highest)
> Labor force size: 3,129,583 people
37. New Mexico
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -9.1% (6,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 60,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.3% (6th highest)
> Labor force size: 958,170 people
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36. South Carolina
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -8.6% (16,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 170,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.0% (24th lowest)
> Labor force size: 2,385,004 people
35. West Virginia
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -8.3% (5,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 55,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.6% (19th lowest)
> Labor force size: 784,706 people
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34. Alabama
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -8.2% (13,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 146,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.0% (24th lowest)
> Labor force size: 2,251,091 people
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33. Iowa
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -8.0% (9,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 104,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.6% (19th lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,666,277 people
32. New Jersey
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -6.5% (20,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 290,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.2% (7th highest)
> Labor force size: 4,428,115 people
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31. Tennessee
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -6.5% (16,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 232,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.1% (25th lowest)
> Labor force size: 3,325,345 people
30. Missouri
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -6.0% (14,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 221,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.6% (19th lowest)
> Labor force size: 3,036,287 people
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29. North Carolina
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -5.3% (19,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 338,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.4% (22nd highest)
> Labor force size: 5,066,946 people
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28. North Dakota
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -3.1% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 31,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.5% (15th lowest)
> Labor force size: 399,379 people
27. California
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -3.0% (35,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 1,118,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.4% (3rd highest)
> Labor force size: 19,174,527 people
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26. Oregon
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -2.8% (4,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 137,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.4% (22nd highest)
> Labor force size: 2,170,491 people
25. Rhode Island
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -2.6% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 38,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.1% (17th highest)
> Labor force size: 556,597 people
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24. Texas
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -2.5% (23,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 884,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.5% (11th highest)
> Labor force size: 14,429,974 people
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23. Montana
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -2.4% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 41,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.9% (7th lowest)
> Labor force size: 542,991 people
22. Virginia
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -2.3% (7,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 301,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.7% (20th lowest)
> Labor force size: 4,262,219 people
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21. Washington
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -1.3% (3,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 221,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.6% (20th highest)
> Labor force size: 3,941,030 people
20. Indiana
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -1.2% (3,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 240,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.1% (10th lowest)
> Labor force size: 3,313,444 people
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19. Wisconsin
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -0.5% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 209,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.9% (7th lowest)
> Labor force size: 3,102,248 people
18. Arizona
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -0.5% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 220,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.2% (25th highest)
> Labor force size: 3,672,206 people
17. Nebraska
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: 0.0%
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 72,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.2% (the lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,026,620 people
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16. Utah
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: 0.0%
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 117,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.4% (2nd lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,698,570 people
15. Wyoming
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: 0.0%
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 21,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.4% (14th lowest)
> Labor force size: 291,339 people
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14. Vermont
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: 0.0%
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 23,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.9% (7th lowest)
> Labor force size: 317,782 people
13. Nevada
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: 0.0%
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 109,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.4% (3rd highest)
> Labor force size: 1,542,205 people
12. Massachusetts
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +0.3% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 290,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.6% (9th highest)
> Labor force size: 3,745,089 people
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11. Kansas
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +1.1% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 95,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.6% (19th lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,496,148 people
10. Idaho
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +1.7% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 59,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.9% (7th lowest)
> Labor force size: 909,318 people
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9. Pennsylvania
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +2.0% (8,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 400,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.3% (15th highest)
> Labor force size: 6,222,776 people
8. Colorado
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +2.4% (5,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 212,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.4% (13th highest)
> Labor force size: 3,217,519 people
7. Hawaii
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +4.0% (2,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 52,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.4% (3rd highest)
> Labor force size: 649,967 people
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6. Maine
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +4.7% (2,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 45,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.4% (13th highest)
> Labor force size: 672,067 people
5. Alaska
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +7.1% (2,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 30,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.5% (the highest)
> Labor force size: 352,259 people
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4. Connecticut
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +8.7% (9,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 112,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.8% (8th highest)
> Labor force size: 1,850,252 people
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3. Ohio
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +10.2% (39,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 420,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.4% (22nd highest)
> Labor force size: 5,682,965 people
2. New Hampshire
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +14.0% (7,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 57,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.1% (10th lowest)
> Labor force size: 741,833 people
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1. New York
> Change in job openings, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +18.0% (97,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Nov. 2021: 636,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.5% (the highest)
> Labor force size: 9,188,192 people
Methodology
To determine the States where employers can’t hire fast enough, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. States are ranked by the change in the number of open jobs between October 2021 and November 2021.
Job openings are the number of positions – full-time, part-time, seasonal, short-term, or permanent – open on the last business day of a given month. In order to be counted as open, a job has to start within 30 days of when the employer can find a suitable candidate.
Figures on unemployment and labor force size, which includes Americans either working or actively looking for work, are also from the BLS.
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