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 62.2%, a low not seen in the pre-pandemic United States since the 1970s. 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 over 11.5 million job openings nationwide at the end of March 2022, an all-time high, and 36% more than the same month last year. In much of the country, the problem shows few signs of slowing. In the last month alone, 24 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 February 2022 and March 2022, the most recent months of available data.
Of the 50 states, 20 reported a month-to-month drop in unfilled jobs, six reported no change, and in four of the 24 that reported an increase, job openings surged by over 10%.
Despite the need for workers, a small percentage of the labor force remains unemployed, suggesting that among the unemployed there is 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 employers offer. The national unemployment rate was 3.6% in March 2022. Depending on the state, unemployment ranges from 2.0% to 5.3%. Here is a look at the industry laying off the most Americans.
Click here to see the states adding the most job openings
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. New Hampshire
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -16.4% (10,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 51,000 (7.0% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> Labor force size: 758,616 people
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49. Wyoming
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -8.3% (2,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 22,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> Labor force size: 290,365 people
48. Georgia
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -7.6% (33,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 402,000 (7.8% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> Labor force size: 5,251,130 people
47. Wisconsin
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -6.8% (16,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 218,000 (6.9% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> Labor force size: 3,144,673 people
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46. Idaho
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -6.0% (4,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 63,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> Labor force size: 932,278 people
45. New York
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -5.6% (35,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 594,000 (6.0% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> Labor force size: 9,376,546 people
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44. Michigan
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -4.8% (17,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 339,000 (7.3% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> Labor force size: 4,819,131 people
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43. Ohio
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -4.1% (17,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 393,000 (6.7% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 5,763,448 people
42. Vermont
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -3.8% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 25,000 (7.7% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> Labor force size: 331,412 people
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41. Kansas
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -3.1% (3,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 93,000 (6.3% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> Labor force size: 1,499,603 people
40. North Dakota
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -3.1% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 31,000 (6.8% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> Labor force size: 409,949 people
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39. Tennessee
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -2.7% (7,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 252,000 (7.3% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> Labor force size: 3,370,618 people
38. Washington
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -2.3% (6,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 250,000 (6.7% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> Labor force size: 4,003,490 people
37. Maine
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -2.1% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 47,000 (6.9% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> Labor force size: 679,433 people
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36. Iowa
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -1.8% (2,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 111,000 (6.6% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> Labor force size: 1,692,502 people
35. New Mexico
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -1.4% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 69,000 (7.5% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> Labor force size: 948,386 people
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34. Connecticut
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -0.9% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 110,000 (6.3% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> Labor force size: 1,879,419 people
33. Nevada
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -0.9% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 114,000 (7.3% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 5.0%
> Labor force size: 1,503,263 people
32. Alabama
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -0.7% (1,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 147,000 (6.6% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> Labor force size: 2,270,463 people
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31. California
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: -0.5% (7,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 1,279,000 (6.8% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.9%
> Labor force size: 19,131,273 people
30. Illinois
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: No change
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 468,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.7%
> Labor force size: 6,430,758 people
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29. Pennsylvania
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: No change
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 411,000 (6.5% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.9%
> Labor force size: 6,387,365 people
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28. West Virginia
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: No change
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 60,000 (7.9% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> Labor force size: 794,175 people
27. Montana
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: No change
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 44,000 (8.0% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> Labor force size: 558,466 people
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26. South Dakota
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: No change
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 32,000 (6.7% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> Labor force size: 472,658 people
25. Alaska
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: No change
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 32,000 (9.2% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 5.0%
> Labor force size: 361,758 people
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24. Colorado
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +0.5% (+1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 215,000 (7.1% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> Labor force size: 3,211,692 people
23. South Carolina
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +0.5% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 189,000 (7.9% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> Labor force size: 2,384,364 people
22. Oregon
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +1.3% (2,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 160,000 (7.6% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.8%
> Labor force size: 2,184,140 people
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21. Utah
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +1.6% (2,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 127,000 (7.1% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.0%
> Labor force size: 1,705,513 people
20. Hawaii
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +2.0% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 52,000 (8.0% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 672,576 people
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19. Louisiana
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +2.1% (3,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 149,000 (7.3% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> Labor force size: 2,089,731 people
18. Arizona
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +2.5% (6,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 247,000 (7.5% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> Labor force size: 3,548,773 people
17. Rhode Island
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +2.5% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 41,000 (7.7% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> Labor force size: 568,879 people
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16. Missouri
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +3.2% (7,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 225,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> Labor force size: 3,087,759 people
15. Massachusetts
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +3.2% (10,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 318,000 (8.0% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> Labor force size: 3,775,288 people
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14. Virginia
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +3.7% (11,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 310,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> Labor force size: 4,311,629 people
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13. New Jersey
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +3.9% (11,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 290,000 (6.5% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> Labor force size: 4,618,709 people
12. Texas
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +5.0% (47,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 985,000 (6.9% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> Labor force size: 14,414,591 people
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11. Minnesota
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +5.6% (13,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 245,000 (7.8% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> Labor force size: 3,071,594 people
10. Indiana
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +5.7% (13,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 241,000 (7.1% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> Labor force size: 3,332,239 people
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9. Delaware
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +6.3% (2,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 34,000 (6.9% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.5%
> Labor force size: 498,638 people
8. Nebraska
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +7.2% (5,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 74,000 (6.7% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.0%
> Labor force size: 1,058,891 people
7. Mississippi
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +8.0% (7,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 95,000 (7.6% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> Labor force size: 1,259,602 people
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6. North Carolina
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +8.3% (31,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 406,000 (7.9% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.5%
> Labor force size: 5,030,542 people
5. Florida
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +8.9% (61,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 749,000 (7.5% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> Labor force size: 10,513,164 people
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4. Maryland
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +10.9% (22,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 223,000 (7.6% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> Labor force size: 3,198,116 people
3. Oklahoma
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +27.0% (31,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 146,000 (8.0% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> Labor force size: 1,862,120 people
2. Kentucky
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +28.0% (46,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 210,000 (9.8% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.0%
> Labor force size: 2,060,065 people
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1. Arkansas
> Change in job openings, Feb. 2022-March 2022: +37.0% (30,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of March 2022: 111,000 (7.8% of all jobs)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> Labor force size: 1,343,907 people
Methodology
To determine the states where employers cannot 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 February 2022 and March 2022. For multiple states with the same change in job openings, states with a smaller labor force ranked higher.
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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