The 10 best and 10 worst states for finding a job right now

Jobs are in high demand. Here are the areas where you’re more likely to find them.Ezra Bailey/Getty ImagesWalletHub ranked all US states to identify the best and worst ones for job seekers in 2025.The company analyzed each state’s job strength and economic health.The top areas to find jobs are New England, the Upper Midwest, and the Great Plains, with one Southern exception.If you’re one of the millions of unemployed Americans looking for work right now, it’s clear the job market is tough.Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in August, the number of job seekers outpaced available openings in the US for the first time since April 2021. The shift comes amid a wave of layoffs this year across major employers, including Amazon, Meta, and GM.For many out-of-work Americans, it’s easy to feel discouraged — but there’s still hope. WalletHub has ranked the best and worst cities in the US for job hunters, showing where your odds might be strongest and weakest.To find out where you’ll have the best chance at landing, keeping, and actually enjoying a job, WalletHub compared all 50 states using 34 metrics that reflect job-market strength and economic health. These include factors such as employment growth, median annual income, average commute time, job security, and even the likelihood that artificial intelligence could take your job in the future.WalletHub found that many of the best states for jobs are clustered in New England, the Upper Midwest, and the Great Plains, with Texas being the lone Southern state. Despite their regional and industry differences, from tech in Massachusetts to agriculture in the Dakotas, these states share common strengths: low unemployment, solid job growth, and business-friendly environments.”The best states for jobs make it easier for residents to find and retain jobs, and employers in these states also offer very competitive compensation and benefits," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.These are the 10 best and 10 worst states for job prospects, according to WalletHub. Business Insider added September median home sale prices from Redfin and 2024 median household income data from the Missouri Census Data Center’s ACS Profiles.The 10 best states for jobsBoston.DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images10. Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockJob market rank: 15Economic market rank: 8Median household income: $83,504Median home sale price: $570,0009. MainePortland, Maine.PTAP Aerial/ShutterstockJob market rank: 2Economic market rank: 31Median household income: $76,442Median home sale price: $396,4008. North DakotaFargo, North Dakota.Jacob Boomsma/ShutterstockJob market rank: 13Economic market rank: 9Median household income: $77,871Median home sale price: $297,1007. TexasDallas.adamkaz/Getty ImagesJob market rank: 18Economic market rank: 2Median household income: $79,721Median home sale price: $339,1006. South DakotaSioux Falls, South Dakota.Jacob Boomsma/ShutterstockJob market rank: 10Economic market rank: 7Median household income: $76,881Median home sale price: $325,7005. New HampshireManchester, New Hampshire.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockJob market rank: 7Economic market rank: 12Median household income: $99,782Median home sale price: $509,9004. VermontStowe, Vermont.Nicholas Klein/Getty ImagesJob market rank: 5Economic market rank: 17Median household income: $82,730Median home sale price: $427,6003. MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockJob market rank: 8Economic market rank: 4Median household income: $87,117Median home sale price: $363,3002. ConnecticutNew Haven, Connecticutf11photo/ShutterstockJob market rank: 4Economic market rank: 15Median household income: $96,049Median home listing price: $461,8001. MassachusettsBoston, Massachusetts.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockJob market rank: 1Economic market rank: 22Median household income: $104,828Median home sale price: $639,100The 10 worst states for jobsCharleston, West Virginia.Richard Nowitz/Getty Images10. OklahomaOklahoma City, Oklahoma,Sean Pavone/ShutterstockJob market rank: 42Economic market rank: 38Median household income: $66,148Median home sale price: $252,9009. IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana.Jeremy Poland/Getty ImagesJob market rank: 44Economic market rank: 36Median household income: $71,959Median home sale price: $276,2008. MontanaHelena, Montana.DenisTangneyJr/Getty ImagesJob market rank: 40Economic market rank: 41Median household income: $75,340Median home sale price: $547,0007. PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania.photosounds/ShutterstockJob market rank: 29Economic market rank: 48Median household income: $77,545Median home sale price: $306,2006. North CarolinaCharlotte, North Carolina.Kevin Ruck/ShutterstockJob market rank: 46Economic market rank: 37Median household income: $73,958Median home sale price: $379,5005. OregonPortland, Oregon.Jesper A/ShutterstockJob market rank: 27Economic market rank: 50Median household income: $85,220Median home sale price: $507,8004. AlaskaJuneau, Alaska.Alexandre.ROSA/ShutterstockJob market rank: 48Economic market rank: 30Median household income: $95,665Median home sale price: $401,8003. KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockJob market rank: 35Economic market rank: 49Median household income: $64,526Median home sale price: $270,5002. LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana.Cavan-Images/ShutterstockJob market rank: 49Economic market rank: 43Median household income: $60,986Median home sale price: $253,0001. West VirginiaCharleston, West Virginia.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockJob market rank: 50Economic market rank: 44Median household income: $60,798Median home sale price: $239,800Read the original article on Business Insiderhttps://www.businessinsider.com/best-worst-states-for-jobs-2025