State ranking · Updated October 2026

Best States for Jobs (2026)

Ranked by Locustep’s job-market score, a directional read on general labor-market strength and how diversified each state’s economy is.

6 states tie for #1 (8/10). Mississippi and West Virginia tie for last (3/10).

This is a Locustep score from 1 to 10: a directional composite for sorting states, not a single published statistic. To check a specific place, see the BLS Economy at a Glance.

Rank	State	Locustep score
1	California	8/10
1	Colorado	8/10
1	Massachusetts	8/10
1	Texas	8/10
1	Utah	8/10
1	Washington	8/10
7	Arizona	7/10
7	Florida	7/10
7	Georgia	7/10
7	Maryland	7/10
7	Minnesota	7/10
7	New York	7/10
7	North Carolina	7/10
7	Virginia	7/10
15	Connecticut	6/10
15	Delaware	6/10
15	Idaho	6/10
15	Illinois	6/10
15	Indiana	6/10
15	Iowa	6/10
15	Kansas	6/10
15	Nebraska	6/10
15	Nevada	6/10
15	New Hampshire	6/10
15	New Jersey	6/10
15	North Dakota	6/10
15	Ohio	6/10
15	Oregon	6/10
15	Pennsylvania	6/10
15	South Carolina	6/10
15	South Dakota	6/10
15	Tennessee	6/10
15	Wisconsin	6/10
34	Alabama	5/10
34	Alaska	5/10
34	Kentucky	5/10
34	Michigan	5/10
34	Missouri	5/10
34	Oklahoma	5/10
34	Rhode Island	5/10
41	Arkansas	4/10
41	Hawaii	4/10
41	Louisiana	4/10
41	Maine	4/10
41	Montana	4/10
41	New Mexico	4/10
41	Vermont	4/10
41	Wyoming	4/10
49	Mississippi	3/10
49	West Virginia	3/10

Full ranking

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