The U.S. economy continues to benefit from strong job growth as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, many companies and businesses are struggling to find and hire workers, as the number of unfilled jobs has hit multi-decade highs in recent months. There were nearly 12 million job openings nationwide at the end of April 2022, an all-time high, and 22% more than the same month last year.
Causes of the historic labor shortage vary. During the pandemic, early retirements surged, parents of school-age children left the workforce en masse, and immigration slowed considerably, resulting in millions of fewer workers than there otherwise would have been. This is what it costs to retire comfortably in each state.
Today, 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. The national labor shortage is putting a strain on businesses across the country, forcing some to reduce hours and others to close completely.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most job openings. States are ranked by the share of all jobs that were unfilled as of the end of April 2022, the most recent month of available data. Depending on the state, the share of jobs that remain unfilled ranges from 5.7% to 8.7%. For context, 7.4% of jobs nationwide are unfilled.
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 April 2022. Depending on the state, unemployment ranges from 1.9% to 5.3%. (Here is a look at the states where unemployment is at an all time low.)
Click here to see the states with the most job openings
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. New York
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 5.7% of all jobs (569,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.5%
> 1-year change in job openings: +6.4% (34,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 9,404,038 people
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49. New Jersey
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 6.1% of all jobs (273,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in job openings: +0.7% (2,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 4,634,049 people
48. Connecticut
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 6.2% of all jobs (109,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> 1-year change in job openings: +9.0% (9,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,887,900 people
47. Pennsylvania
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 6.3% of all jobs (397,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> 1-year change in job openings: -5.3% (22,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 6,409,766 people
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46. Utah
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 6.6% of all jobs (118,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 1.9%
> 1-year change in job openings: +16.8% (17,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,714,407 people
45. Arizona
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 6.8% of all jobs (222,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in job openings: +9.9% (20,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,556,902 people
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44. Washington
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 6.8% of all jobs (252,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in job openings: +16.7% (36,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 4,023,291 people
43. Maine
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 6.9% of all jobs (46,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> 1-year change in job openings: +7.0% (3,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 678,788 people
42. Mississippi
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 6.9% of all jobs (86,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in job openings: +7.5% (6,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,264,202 people
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41. California
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 6.9% of all jobs (1300,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> 1-year change in job openings: +34.9% (336,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 19,229,150 people
40. Oregon
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.0% of all jobs (146,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> 1-year change in job openings: +16.8% (21,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 2,193,742 people
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39. Arkansas
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.1% of all jobs (100,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in job openings: +20.5% (17,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,349,553 people
38. Ohio
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.1% of all jobs (418,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.0%
> 1-year change in job openings: +24.8% (83,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 5,773,484 people
37. Wyoming
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.2% of all jobs (22,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> 1-year change in job openings: +22.2% (4,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 290,691 people
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36. Idaho
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.2% of all jobs (63,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.6%
> 1-year change in job openings: +12.5% (7,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 937,017 people
35. Nevada
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.2% of all jobs (112,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 5.0%
> 1-year change in job openings: +14.3% (14,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,508,783 people
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34. Texas
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.3% of all jobs (1044,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> 1-year change in job openings: +23.6% (199,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 14,459,425 people
33. New Hampshire
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.4% of all jobs (54,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> 1-year change in job openings: +12.5% (6,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 759,932 people
32. Kansas
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.4% of all jobs (112,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.4%
> 1-year change in job openings: +38.3% (31,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,501,739 people
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31. Missouri
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.4% of all jobs (233,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> 1-year change in job openings: +26.6% (49,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,091,654 people
30. Colorado
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.5% of all jobs (229,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> 1-year change in job openings: +17.4% (34,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,225,366 people
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29. Florida
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.5% of all jobs (752,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> 1-year change in job openings: +36.2% (200,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 10,542,655 people
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28. Maryland
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.6% of all jobs (223,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> 1-year change in job openings: -4.7% (11,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,196,817 people
27. New Mexico
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.7% of all jobs (71,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> 1-year change in job openings: +18.3% (11,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 949,673 people
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26. Oklahoma
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.7% of all jobs (141,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> 1-year change in job openings: +17.5% (21,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,868,236 people
25. Delaware
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.8% of all jobs (38,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.5%
> 1-year change in job openings: +11.8% (4,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 498,950 people
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24. Hawaii
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.8% of all jobs (51,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in job openings: +24.4% (10,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 673,630 people
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23. Nebraska
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.8% of all jobs (86,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 1.9%
> 1-year change in job openings: +41.0% (25,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,060,739 people
22. Louisiana
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.8% of all jobs (162,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in job openings: +32.8% (40,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 2,100,393 people
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21. Michigan
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.8% of all jobs (363,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> 1-year change in job openings: +5.8% (20,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 4,833,339 people
20. Rhode Island
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.9% of all jobs (42,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in job openings: +13.5% (5,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 569,045 people
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19. Alabama
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.9% of all jobs (177,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> 1-year change in job openings: +22.9% (33,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 2,276,371 people
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18. Indiana
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.9% of all jobs (270,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> 1-year change in job openings: +23.9% (52,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,347,991 people
17. Virginia
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 7.9% of all jobs (347,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> 1-year change in job openings: +19.7% (57,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 4,330,002 people
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16. Vermont
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.0% of all jobs (26,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> 1-year change in job openings: +8.3% (2,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 332,746 people
15. South Dakota
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.0% of all jobs (38,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> 1-year change in job openings: +18.8% (6,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 473,832 people
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14. Tennessee
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.0% of all jobs (281,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in job openings: +27.7% (61,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,388,428 people
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13. Massachusetts
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.0% of all jobs (319,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in job openings: +45.7% (100,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,775,535 people
12. North Dakota
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.1% of all jobs (37,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> 1-year change in job openings: +37.0% (10,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 410,859 people
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11. North Carolina
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.1% of all jobs (417,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> 1-year change in job openings: +27.1% (89,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 5,056,492 people
10. Wisconsin
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.2% of all jobs (259,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> 1-year change in job openings: +33.5% (65,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,147,274 people
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9. Montana
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.3% of all jobs (46,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> 1-year change in job openings: +21.1% (8,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 560,660 people
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8. South Carolina
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.3% of all jobs (200,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> 1-year change in job openings: +14.9% (26,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 2,391,819 people
7. Minnesota
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.3% of all jobs (262,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> 1-year change in job openings: +42.4% (78,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,080,002 people
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6. Alaska
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.4% of all jobs (29,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> 1-year change in job openings: +16.0% (4,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 361,817 people
5. West Virginia
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.4% of all jobs (65,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> 1-year change in job openings: +14.0% (8,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 794,631 people
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4. Georgia
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.4% of all jobs (437,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> 1-year change in job openings: +22.1% (79,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 5,267,587 people
3. Illinois
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.4% of all jobs (551,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> 1-year change in job openings: +57.4% (201,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 6,449,597 people
2. Iowa
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.7% of all jobs (149,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> 1-year change in job openings: +39.3% (42,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,697,705 people
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1. Kentucky
> Job openings at the end of April 2022: 8.7% of all jobs (186,000 total openings)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.9%
> 1-year change in job openings: +11.4% (19,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 2,062,849 people
Methodology
To determine the states with the most job openings, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. States are ranked by the job openings rate, which is calculated by dividing the number of job openings by the sum of filled jobs and job openings and multiplying the quotient by 100. For multiple states with the same job openings rate, ties were broken by the actual number of job openings.
Job openings are the number of positions – full-time, part-time, seasonal, short-term, or permanent – open on the last business day of April 2022, the most recent month of available data. 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 those who are either working or actively looking for work, are also from the BLS.
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