The number of unfilled jobs has hit multi-decade highs in recent months, and businesses across the country are struggling to find and hire workers. There were more than 11 million job openings nationwide at the end of May 2022, the most recent available period, just shy of the all-time high reported earlier this year, and 17% more than in May 2021.
There are several causes explaining this historic labor shortage. 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 American business, forcing some employers 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 May 2022, the most recent month of available data. Depending on the state, the share of jobs that remain unfilled ranges from 5.4% to 8.4%. Nationwide, 6.9% of jobs are unfilled.
Despite the need for workers, a small percentage of the labor force remains unemployed, suggesting a mismatch – either between 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 May 2022. Depending on the state, unemployment rates range from 1.9% to 5.7%. (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 May 2022: 5.4% of all jobs (538,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.4% (414,806 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +2.9% (15,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 9,457,848 people
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49. Arizona
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.2% of all jobs (200,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.2% (115,188 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: -7.8% (17,000 fewer openings)
> Labor force size: 3,569,593 people
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48. Illinois
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.3% of all jobs (405,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.6% (297,757 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +18.1% (62,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 6,464,985 people
47. Washington
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.4% of all jobs (240,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.9% (158,902 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +26.3% (50,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 4,036,317 people
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46. New Jersey
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.4% of all jobs (285,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.9% (181,724 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +6.7% (18,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 4,648,563 people
45. Utah
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.5% of all jobs (116,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.0% (34,061 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +16.0% (16,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,722,848 people
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44. Oregon
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.6% of all jobs (137,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.6% (78,641 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +2.2% (3,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 2,202,820 people
43. Alabama
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.6% of all jobs (148,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.7% (61,621 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +9.6% (13,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 2,284,598 people
42. Florida
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.6% of all jobs (660,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.0% (312,812 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +21.1% (115,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 10,592,472 people
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41. Kansas
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.7% of all jobs (100,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.3% (35,359 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +20.5% (17,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,505,575 people
40. Indiana
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.7% of all jobs (229,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.2% (73,911 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +4.6% (10,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,364,365 people
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39. Connecticut
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.8% of all jobs (120,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.2% (78,732 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +20.0% (20,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,895,140 people
38. Texas
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.8% of all jobs (974,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.2% (608,248 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +18.2% (150,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 14,516,071 people
37. California
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.8% of all jobs (1,283,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.3% (835,058 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +38.3% (355,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 19,304,237 people
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36. Delaware
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.9% of all jobs (34,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.5% (22,636 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +9.7% (3,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 500,114 people
35. Hawaii
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.9% of all jobs (45,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.2% (28,256 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +18.4% (7,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 675,852 people
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34. Idaho
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.9% of all jobs (60,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.5% (23,605 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +15.4% (8,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 943,390 people
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33. Nevada
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.9% of all jobs (107,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.9% (74,171 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: -4.5% (5,000 fewer openings)
> Labor force size: 1,515,764 people
32. Oklahoma
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 6.9% of all jobs (125,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.8% (52,013 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +19.0% (20,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,875,037 people
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31. North Dakota
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.0% of all jobs (32,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.6% (10,756 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +18.5% (5,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 410,871 people
30. South Dakota
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.0% of all jobs (34,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.3% (10,721 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +21.4% (6,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 475,729 people
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29. Arkansas
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.0% of all jobs (98,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.2% (42,771 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +24.1% (19,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,352,098 people
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28. Nebraska
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.1% of all jobs (79,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 1.9% (19,916 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +23.4% (15,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,062,678 people
27. Mississippi
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.1% of all jobs (89,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.0% (50,087 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +7.2% (6,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,267,649 people
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26. Iowa
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.1% of all jobs (120,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.7% (46,771 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +22.4% (22,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 1,703,947 people
25. Georgia
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.1% of all jobs (367,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.0% (157,542 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +0.5% (2,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 5,281,828 people
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24. Ohio
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.1% of all jobs (420,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.9% (226,347 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +28.4% (93,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 5,792,221 people
23. Maine
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.2% of all jobs (49,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.2% (21,537 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +16.7% (7,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 679,101 people
22. New Mexico
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.2% of all jobs (66,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 5.1% (48,385 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +13.8% (8,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 951,866 people
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21. Colorado
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.2% of all jobs (220,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.5% (114,670 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +8.9% (18,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,240,739 people
20. Wisconsin
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.2% of all jobs (226,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.9% (89,892 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +14.1% (28,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,149,219 people
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19. Missouri
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.3% of all jobs (229,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.1% (96,446 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +30.9% (54,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,088,085 people
18. Tennessee
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.3% of all jobs (253,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.3% (112,018 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +12.9% (29,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,405,582 people
17. West Virginia
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.4% of all jobs (57,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.5% (27,913 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +5.6% (3,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 795,826 people
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16. Virginia
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.4% of all jobs (321,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.0% (128,841 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +20.2% (54,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 4,347,177 people
15. Wyoming
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.5% of all jobs (23,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.2% (9,228 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +21.1% (4,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 290,851 people
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14. New Hampshire
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.5% of all jobs (55,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.1% (16,280 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +7.8% (4,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 762,367 people
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13. South Carolina
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.5% of all jobs (179,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.3% (79,162 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +4.1% (7,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 2,401,251 people
12. Minnesota
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.5% of all jobs (236,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.0% (61,551 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +21.0% (41,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,086,907 people
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11. Michigan
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.5% of all jobs (351,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.3% (207,270 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +0.9% (3,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 4,849,351 people
10. North Carolina
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.5% of all jobs (386,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.4% (170,970 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +29.1% (87,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 5,087,550 people
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9. Pennsylvania
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.5% of all jobs (478,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.6% (297,505 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +6.0% (27,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 6,439,727 people
8. Rhode Island
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.6% of all jobs (41,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.9% (16,492 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +28.1% (9,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 570,102 people
7. Louisiana
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.7% of all jobs (160,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.0% (83,483 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +36.8% (43,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 2,107,341 people
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6. Maryland
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 7.7% of all jobs (227,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.0% (127,512 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +5.1% (11,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,203,076 people
5. Vermont
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 8.0% of all jobs (26,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.3% (7,560 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +8.3% (2,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 333,575 people
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4. Kentucky
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 8.0% of all jobs (168,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.8% (78,893 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +9.8% (15,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 2,064,679 people
3. Alaska
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 8.2% of all jobs (28,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.7% (16,927 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +27.3% (6,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 362,605 people
2. Montana
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 8.2% of all jobs (45,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.4% (13,739 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +25.0% (9,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 562,828 people
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1. Massachusetts
> Job openings at the end of May 2022: 8.4% of all jobs (338,000 total openings)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.9% (146,201 people)
> 1-year change in job openings: +50.9% (114,000 more openings)
> Labor force size: 3,775,738 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 May 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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