The pandemic has affected the employment market dramatically, with mass retrenchments, resignations and business closures, but as we go back to “business as usual” many Americans are looking for new job opportunities, and considering which states would support their career goals.
By considering how each state has something different to offer, from income tax rates, quality of healthcare, and the number of jobs available, we’ve identified the Best States for a Job in 2022.
Use the map below to discover how all states rank in our more than 50 job-related metrics!
Main Findings
Rank by State
Category Breakdown
Methodology
In order to determine what are the best and worst states to live, TOP Data compared the 50 states across five key dimensions:
1. State Economy
2. Compensation & Benefits
3. Job Market
4. Quality of Life
5. Business Friendliness
We evaluated those dimensions using 51 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 being the max.
Finally, we determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
Business Friendliness (20 Points)
Foreign Direct Investments: Half Weight (0.9 Points)
The number of jobs occupied per 100 000 people, as a result of direct foreign investment.
Broadband Internet Speed: Half Weight (0.9 Points)
The average speed of a broadband internet connection.
College Enrolment Rate: Regular Weight (1.8 Points)
The percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions.
Startup Density: Double Weight (3.6 Points)
The startup businesses of one-year-old that employ at least one person besides the owner, measured per 100 000 businesses.
Rate of New Entrepreneurs: Regular Weight (1.8 Points)
The percentage of the adult population starting a new business each month, regardless of incorporation status
Business Taxes: Double Weight (3.6 Points)
The corporate income tax rate
Growth in New Business Created: Double Weight (3.6 Points)
The change in new business created compared to last year.
Small Business Incentives or Tax Breaks: Regular Weight (1.8 Points)
The number of available incentive programs for small businesses per state.
Venture Capital Investments: Regular Weight (1.8 Points)
The amount of venture capital disbursed per state per capita.
Compensation Benefits (25 Points)
State Income Tax: Double Weight (5.2 Points)
The rate of income taxes payable by a single filer.
Monthly Average Salary: Double Weight (5.2 Points)
The median earning per month per person.
Job Sponsored Health Insurance: Regular Weight (2.6 Points)
The percentage of the population of a state whose health insurance is fully funded by an employer.
Employment Recovery: Regular Weight (2.6 Points)
The percentage change in employment per state between 2020 and 2021.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits: Half Weight (1.3 Points)
The maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit offered per state.
Legislated Paid Leave Days: Half Weight (1.3 Points)
Whether or not a state has legislation indicating employers are required to have paid leave days for employees.
Income Gap by Gender: Regular Weight (2.6 Points)
The percentage of difference between the median earnings of men and women.
Right to Work Laws: Half Weight (1.3 Points)
The states which have or do not have right-to-work laws.
Income Gap by Race: Regular Weight (2.63 Points)
The average wage disparities by race, between white people and people of color, per 1 dollar earned.
Job Market (30 Points)
Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (3.4 Points)
The percentage of the labor force classified as unemployed
Internship/Apprentice Trainee Job Rate: Half Weight (0.8 Points)
The number of Internships/Apprentice Trainee jobs available per state per 100 000 people.
Entry Level Job Rate: Regular Weight (1.7 Points)
The number of entry-level jobs available per 100 000 people.
Mid Level Job Rate: Regular Weight (1.7 Points)
The number of mid-level jobs available per 100 000 people.
Senior Level Job Rate: Regular Weight (1.7 Points)
The number of senior-level jobs available per 100 000 people.
Remote Job Rate: Regular Weight (1.7 Points)
The number of remote jobs available per 100 000 people.
Growth in Retail Jobs: Regular Weight (1.7 Points)
The projection of growth in retail jobs. (This includes Counter and Rental Clerks, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, Retail Salespersons, Tellers, and more).
Growth in Food & Beverage Jobs: Regular Weight (1.7 Points)
The projection of growth in Food & Beverage-related jobs.
Growth in Education Jobs: Regular Weight (1.7 Points)
The projection of growth in education-related jobs.
Growth in Remote Friendly Jobs: Regular Weight (1.7 Points)
The growth of remote-friendly jobs in the last year.
Overall Growth in Jobs: Double Weight (3.4 Points)
Projected job growth per state.
Automation Risk: Half Weight (0.8 Points)
The percentage of jobs at risk of automation by state.
Presence of Work-Share Programs: Regular Weight (1.7 Points)
The states who have, and do not have work-share programs.
State Statue on Hiring Based on Salary History: Half Weight (0.8 Points)
The states who have legislated and implemented the statute of hiring without the disclosure of salary history.
Growth in Employment: Triple Weight (5.1 Points)
The total number of jobs available per capita.
Quality of Life (10 Points)
Average Commute Time: Half Weight (0.5 Points)
The percentage of the population whose work commute last longer than 30 minutes to work each day.
Cost of Living: Regular Weight (1.1 Points)
Index of the average cost of living that accounts for the cost of grocery, housing, utilities, transportation, health, and miscellaneous costs.
Housing Affordability: Regular Weight (1.1 Points)
The number of years an average worker must work to afford to house.
Safety: Half Weight (0.5 Points)
The rate of property crimes, homicides, burglary, and robbery rates per 100 000 people.
Cost of Healthcare: Half Weight (0.5 Points)
The average healthcare cost per person in each state.
Poverty Rate: Regular Weight (1.1 Points)
The percentage of people, per 100 000, whose earnings are below the poverty level.
Job Satisfaction: Double Weight (2.2 Points)
The job satisfaction rate across all career fields per state.
State Parks: Half Weight (0.5 Points)
The number of state parks available to the public per 100 000 people.
Weather: Regular Weight (1.1 Points)
The rate of change in the climate of the highest and lowest temperatures.
Rent Affordability: Regular Weight (1.1 Points)
The hours that an average worker must work to afford a one-bedroom apartment.
State Economy (15 Points)
Change in GPD: Regular Weight (2.0 Points)
The yearly change in GPD from Q3 2020 to Q3 2021.
Labor Force Participation: Regular Weight (2.0 Points)
The percentage of people in a state over the age of 18 who are active in the labor force.
Net Migration Rate: Regular Weight (2.0 Points)
The cumulative change of domestic net migration per 100 000 people.
Debt per Capita: Regular Weight (2.0 Points)
The average amount of debt per capita in each state.
State Credit Rating: Regular Weight (2.0 Points)
The credit rating assigned to each state from S&P Global.
Number of Patents: Half Weight (1.0 Points)
The number of patents registered per 100 000 people.
R&D Investments: Regular Weight (2.0 Points)
The millions of US dollars invested into Research And Development per 100 000.
Budget Deficit: Regular Weight (2.0 Points)
The total debt to asset ratio per state.