The U.S. is currently grappling with a massive labor shortage. During the pandemic, early retirements surged, parents of school-age children left the workforce en masse, and immigration slowed considerably. This led to millions of fewer workers than there otherwise would have been. Meanwhile, American workers – primarily in low-wage sectors – continued 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 62.3%, a low not seen in the pre-pandemic United States since 1977. This is what it costs to retire comfortably in each state.
The national shortage of workers has left employers struggling to fill open positions – forcing some businesses to reduce hours of operation and others to shutter completely. There were 11.3 million job openings nationwide at the end of January 2022, a 56% increase from a year earlier – and in much of the country, the problem shows few signs of slowing. In the last month alone, 18 states reported an increase in the number of unfilled jobs.
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 December 2021 and January 2022, the most recent months of available data.
Of the 50 states, 30 reported a month-to-month drop in unfilled jobs, two reported no change, and 18 reported an increase – in half a dozen of those, job openings surged by over 10%.
Despite the need for workers, many members of the labor force are unemployed, suggesting a mismatch between either the skills employers are seeking and the labor pool or the kind of work or benefits job seekers desire and what is available. The national unemployment rate stood at 4.0% in January 2022. Depending on the state, unemployment ranges from 2.2% to 5.9%. Here is a look at the worst states to look for a job.
Click here to see states where job openings are surging
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Hawaii
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -25.4% (15,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 44,000 (6.9% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> Labor force size: 673,681 people
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49. Wyoming
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -24.1% (7,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 22,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.8%
> Labor force size: 290,122 people
48. Montana
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -18.0% (9,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 41,000 (7.5% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> Labor force size: 554,986 people
47. North Carolina
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -15.5% (66,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 359,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.9%
> Labor force size: 5,007,262 people
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46. Alaska
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -11.8% (4,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 30,000 (8.7% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.6%
> Labor force size: 361,290 people
45. Mississippi
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -11.2% (10,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 79,000 (6.4% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> Labor force size: 1,252,236 people
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44. Georgia
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -9.3% (39,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 380,000 (7.5% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> Labor force size: 5,215,701 people
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43. Nevada
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -8.9% (10,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 102,000 (6.7% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.2%
> Labor force size: 1,493,864 people
42. Idaho
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -8.7% (6,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 63,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> Labor force size: 924,469 people
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41. South Carolina
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -8.5% (17,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 183,000 (7.7% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.5%
> Labor force size: 2,374,682 people
40. California
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -8.2% (103,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 1,148,000 (6.3% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.8%
> Labor force size: 19,064,484 people
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39. Oregon
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -7.1% (11,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 145,000 (7.0% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> Labor force size: 2,168,038 people
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38. West Virginia
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -7.0% (4,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 53,000 (7.1% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 793,302 people
37. Alabama
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -6.6% (10,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 141,000 (6.4% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> Labor force size: 2,250,379 people
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36. Oklahoma
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -6.3% (8,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 118,000 (6.6% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> Labor force size: 1,850,630 people
35. Louisiana
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -6.1% (9,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 138,000 (6.8% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> Labor force size: 2,069,163 people
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34. Indiana
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -6.0% (16,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 251,000 (7.4% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.4%
> Labor force size: 3,304,953 people
33. Washington
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -5.3% (12,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 213,000 (5.8% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> Labor force size: 3,961,146 people
32. Texas
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -4.1% (38,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 885,000 (6.3% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> Labor force size: 14,333,602 people
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31. Utah
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -3.7% (5,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 129,000 (7.3% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> Labor force size: 1,694,020 people
30. Arkansas
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -3.3% (3,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 89,000 (6.4% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> Labor force size: 1,334,885 people
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29. Maryland
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -3.1% (7,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 217,000 (7.5% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.4%
> Labor force size: 3,196,404 people
28. Kansas
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -3.1% (3,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 94,000 (6.4% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.6%
> Labor force size: 1,495,643 people
27. South Dakota
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -2.9% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 33,000 (6.9% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> Labor force size: 470,653 people
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26. Iowa
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -2.4% (3,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 121,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> Labor force size: 1,680,376 people
25. Colorado
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -2.1% (5,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 231,000 (7.6% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 3,187,417 people
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24. Virginia
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -1.0% (3,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 310,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> Labor force size: 4,277,757 people
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23. Missouri
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -0.8% (2,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 236,000 (7.5% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.8%
> Labor force size: 3,075,707 people
22. Ohio
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -0.5% (2,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 410,000 (7.0% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> Labor force size: 5,743,557 people
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21. New York
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: -0.3% (2,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 588,000 (5.9% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> Labor force size: 9,392,186 people
20. Vermont
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: 0.0%
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 26,000 (8.0% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> Labor force size: 329,312 people
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19. Arizona
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: 0.0%
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 241,000 (7.4% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> Labor force size: 3,536,384 people
18. Wisconsin
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +0.5% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 220,000 (7.0% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> Labor force size: 3,136,984 people
17. Kentucky
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +0.6% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 167,000 (8.0% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> Labor force size: 2,053,986 people
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16. Massachusetts
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +1.1% (3,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 277,000 (7.1% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> Labor force size: 3,767,170 people
15. New Mexico
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +1.5% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 69,000 (7.7% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.9%
> Labor force size: 944,607 people
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14. New Jersey
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +2.4% (7,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 298,000 (6.7% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.2%
> Labor force size: 4,643,011 people
13. Michigan
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +2.5% (9,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 363,000 (7.8% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.9%
> Labor force size: 4,795,240 people
12. North Dakota
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +2.9% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 35,000 (7.6% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> Labor force size: 408,079 people
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11. New Hampshire
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +4.8% (3,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 65,000 (8.8% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> Labor force size: 755,554 people
10. Florida
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +5.4% (37,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 725,000 (7.3% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.5%
> Labor force size: 10,448,456 people
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9. Rhode Island
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +8.1% (3,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 40,000 (7.6% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> Labor force size: 568,798 people
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8. Pennsylvania
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +8.6% (42,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 532,000 (8.3% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.4%
> Labor force size: 6,371,387 people
7. Illinois
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +9.7% (43,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 488,000 (7.6% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.0%
> Labor force size: 6,378,180 people
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6. Nebraska
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +10.4% (8,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 85,000 (7.8% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> Labor force size: 1,056,346 people
5. Minnesota
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +10.4% (24,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 254,000 (8.1% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> Labor force size: 3,045,921 people
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4. Connecticut
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +11.4% (12,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 117,000 (6.7% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> Labor force size: 1,867,354 people
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3. Tennessee
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +12.0% (28,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 262,000 (7.6% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.5%
> Labor force size: 3,346,422 people
2. Delaware
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +18.2% (6,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 39,000 (7.9% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> Labor force size: 498,193 people
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1. Maine
> Change in job openings, Dec. 2021-Jan. 2022: +29.8% (14,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of Jan. 2022: 61,000 (8.8% of all jobs)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 679,523 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 December 2021 and January 2022.
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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