CALIFORNIA BUSINESS MINUTE
Best States for Jobs
05-06-09
Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.
MainStreet.com, the personal finance site from TheStreet.com, has unveiled the
results of its first “Job Opportunity Index,” a new national survey that looks
at number of job openings relative to population in all 50 states plus the
District of Columbia in order to identify states that provide individuals with
the best chance of landing a job.
North Dakota came in at number one, with the 10th highest number of job openings
per capita and the lowest state unemployment anywhere in the US; followed by
Wyoming (#2) and Virginia (#3).
Similar to MainStreet.com’s previously announced Happiness Index, (see 04-07-09 Minute)
rural states, like North Dakota (#1), Wyoming (#2) and Nebraska (#4), also fared well
in the Job Opportunity Index due to low levels of unemployment. This is because the
ratio of low population levels ensured that the per capita number of available jobs
postings is larger than in much more densely populated areas. Hence if this was based
on aggregate numbers, the rankings would be different.
For example, statistics from Virginia (#3), Maryland (#5), and Washington, D.C. (#22)
showed these states have the first, second and third largest numbers of job openings
relative to their populations, but in the case of Washington, D.C., its high unemployment
rate, weighed the state down in the Index’s results.
Meanwhile, Michigan ranks as the state with the worst employment opportunities,
preceded by Oregon (#50) and Indiana (#49).
California ranked 44th, but created far and above the most jobs at nearly 271,000.
For a complete list of the “Job Opportunity Index” rankings and in-depth analysis,
go to: http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/news/job-opportunity-index
I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.
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