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.
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. (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 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. In much of the country, the problem shows few signs of slowing. In the last month alone, 34 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 March 2022 and April 2022, the most recent months of available data.
Of the 50 states, 13 reported a month-to-month drop in unfilled jobs and three reported no change. In 14 of the 34 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 April 2022. Depending on the state, the unemployment rate 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 where job openings are on the rise
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Pennsylvania
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -20.6% (103,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 397,000 (6.3% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> Labor force size: 6,409,766 people
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49. Kentucky
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -14.3% (31,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 186,000 (8.7% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.9%
> Labor force size: 2,062,849 people
48. Mississippi
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -9.5% (9,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 86,000 (6.9% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 1,264,202 people
47. Arkansas
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -9.1% (10,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 100,000 (7.1% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> Labor force size: 1,349,553 people
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46. Maryland
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -8.2% (20,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 223,000 (7.6% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> Labor force size: 3,196,817 people
45. Oregon
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -7.6% (12,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 146,000 (7.0% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> Labor force size: 2,193,742 people
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44. Arizona
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -7.5% (18,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 222,000 (6.8% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> Labor force size: 3,556,902 people
43. Oklahoma
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -6.0% (9,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 141,000 (7.7% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> Labor force size: 1,868,236 people
42. New York
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -3.7% (22,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 569,000 (5.7% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.5%
> Labor force size: 9,404,038 people
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41. North Carolina
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -3.0% (13,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 417,000 (8.1% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> Labor force size: 5,056,492 people
40. Nevada
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -2.6% (3,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 112,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 5.0%
> Labor force size: 1,508,783 people
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39. Florida
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -1.7% (13,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 752,000 (7.5% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> Labor force size: 10,542,655 people
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38. Missouri
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: -0.9% (2,000 fewer open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 233,000 (7.4% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> Labor force size: 3,091,654 people
37. Alaska
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: None
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 29,000 (8.4% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> Labor force size: 361,817 people
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36. Rhode Island
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: None
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 42,000 (7.9% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> Labor force size: 569,045 people
35. West Virginia
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: None
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 65,000 (8.4% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> Labor force size: 794,631 people
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34. Ohio
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +0.5% (2,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 418,000 (7.1% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.0%
> Labor force size: 5,773,484 people
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33. Utah
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +0.9% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 118,000 (6.6% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 1.9%
> Labor force size: 1,714,407 people
32. California
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +1.8% (23,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 1300,000 (6.9% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> Labor force size: 19,229,150 people
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31. New Hampshire
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +1.9% (1,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 54,000 (7.4% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> Labor force size: 759,932 people
30. South Carolina
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +2.0% (4,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 200,000 (8.3% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> Labor force size: 2,391,819 people
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29. Georgia
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +2.8% (12,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 437,000 (8.4% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> Labor force size: 5,267,587 people
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28. New Jersey
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +3.0% (8,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 273,000 (6.1% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 4,634,049 people
27. Connecticut
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +3.8% (4,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 109,000 (6.2% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> Labor force size: 1,887,900 people
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26. Texas
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +4.5% (45,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 1044,000 (7.3% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> Labor force size: 14,459,425 people
25. Washington
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +4.6% (11,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 252,000 (6.8% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 4,023,291 people
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24. Colorado
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +4.6% (10,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 229,000 (7.5% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> Labor force size: 3,225,366 people
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23. Idaho
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +5.0% (3,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 63,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.6%
> Labor force size: 937,017 people
22. Michigan
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +5.2% (18,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 363,000 (7.8% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> Labor force size: 4,833,339 people
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21. New Mexico
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +6.0% (4,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 71,000 (7.7% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> Labor force size: 949,673 people
20. Virginia
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +6.1% (20,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 347,000 (7.9% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> Labor force size: 4,330,002 people
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19. Louisiana
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +6.6% (10,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 162,000 (7.8% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 2,100,393 people
18. Maine
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +7.0% (3,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 46,000 (6.9% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> Labor force size: 678,788 people
17. Tennessee
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +7.3% (19,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 281,000 (8.0% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> Labor force size: 3,388,428 people
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16. Massachusetts
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +7.4% (22,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 319,000 (8.0% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 3,775,535 people
15. Montana
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +9.5% (4,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 46,000 (8.3% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> Labor force size: 560,660 people
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14. Wyoming
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +10.0% (2,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 22,000 (7.2% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> Labor force size: 290,691 people
13. Nebraska
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +10.3% (8,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 86,000 (7.8% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 1.9%
> Labor force size: 1,060,739 people
12. Kansas
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +10.9% (11,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 112,000 (7.4% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.4%
> Labor force size: 1,501,739 people
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11. Delaware
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +11.8% (4,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 38,000 (7.8% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.5%
> Labor force size: 498,950 people
10. South Dakota
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +11.8% (4,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 38,000 (8.0% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> Labor force size: 473,832 people
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9. Minnesota
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +12.9% (30,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 262,000 (8.3% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> Labor force size: 3,080,002 people
8. Vermont
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +13.0% (3,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 26,000 (8.0% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> Labor force size: 332,746 people
7. Hawaii
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +13.3% (6,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 51,000 (7.8% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> Labor force size: 673,630 people
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6. Indiana
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +13.9% (33,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 270,000 (7.9% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> Labor force size: 3,347,991 people
5. Illinois
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +14.1% (68,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 551,000 (8.4% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> Labor force size: 6,449,597 people
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4. North Dakota
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +15.6% (5,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 37,000 (8.1% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> Labor force size: 410,859 people
3. Alabama
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +17.2% (26,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 177,000 (7.9% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> Labor force size: 2,276,371 people
2. Wisconsin
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +22.7% (48,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 259,000 (8.2% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> Labor force size: 3,147,274 people
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1. Iowa
> Change in job openings, March 2022-April 2022: +27.4% (32,000 more open jobs)
> Total job openings at the end of April 2022: 149,000 (8.7% of all jobs)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> Labor force size: 1,697,705 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 percent change in the number of open jobs between March 2022 and April 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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