The U.S. job market has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, driven by factors such as technological advancements, changing consumer behaviors, and the impact of global economic shifts. With the rise of remote work and a boom in certain industries, the demand for skilled labor has seen huge shifts, varying state to state. In light of these changes, both job seekers and employers are looking to understand these changes to navigate this evolving market.
“Looking at job vacancies provides invaluable insight into broader current economic conditions,” said Julia Yurchak, senior recruitment consultant at Keller Executive Search. “States with high vacancy rates tend to have sectors that are booming but struggling to meet talent demand, while lower-vacancy states can indicate a market where job growth has plateaued.”
To explore this topic further, Keller Executive Search carried out a study uncovering which U.S. states have seen the highest, and lowest, growth in job opening rates every year.
The study
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the research, spanning from 2019 to 2024, offers a comprehensive look at job vacancy trends, comparing the job openings rate from each year to shed light on the states with booming job markets and those facing hiring challenges.
The job rate represents the average percentage of job openings that were vacant out of all job positions in each state across the six-year period. States were ranked by the cumulative growth percentage over that time.
Table 1: The Top 10 States With the Highest Job Vacancy Growth Rate
| Rank | State | Job Posts rate (average %, 2019) | Job Posts rate (average %, 2020) | Job Posts rate (average %, 2021) | Job Posts rate (average %, 2022) | Job Posts rate (average %, 2023) | Job Posts rate (average %, 2024) | Job Posts rate (average %, 2019-2024) | Cumulative Growth (%) |
| 1 | Kentucky | 4.43 | 4.91 | 7.17 | 7.56 | 5.86 | 5.98 | 5.98 | 34.89% |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 4.56 | 4.75 | 6.48 | 6.95 | 6.36 | 5.88 | 5.83 | 28.99% |
| 3 | Connecticut | 3.70 | 3.62 | 5.59 | 6.75 | 5.14 | 4.74 | 4.92 | 28.11% |
| 4 | Louisiana | 4.41 | 4.67 | 6.51 | 7.41 | 6.64 | 5.55 | 5.86 | 25.90% |
| 5 | Mississippi | 4.34 | 4.73 | 6.62 | 7.08 | 6.54 | 5.46 | 5.80 | 25.76% |
| 6 | Maryland | 4.80 | 5.13 | 7.06 | 7.28 | 6.43 | 6.01 | 6.11 | 25.21% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 4.89 | 5.03 | 7.27 | 7.42 | 6.94 | 5.98 | 6.25 | 22.25% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5.00 | 3.98 | 6.64 | 7.28 | 7.03 | 6.11 | 6.01 | 22.20% |
| 9 | Arkansas | 4.63 | 4.34 | 6.19 | 7.03 | 6.09 | 5.61 | 5.65 | 21.30% |
| 10 | Alabama | 4.40 | 4.62 | 6.44 | 6.84 | 5.89 | 5.32 | 5.59 | 20.91% |
- Kentucky: Kentucky had a job posts rate of 4.43 in 2019, which increased to 5.98 by 2024. The vacancy rate saw steady growth each year, with the largest increase between 2020 and 2021 (from 4.91% to 7.17%). This resulted in a cumulative growth of 34.89% over the six-year period.
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma’s vacancy rate started at 4.56% in 2019 and grew to 5.83% by 2024. The state saw a significant jump from 2020 to 2021 (from 4.75% to 6.48%) and experienced a cumulative growth of 28.99% over the six years.
- Connecticut: Connecticut’s job posts rate was 3.70% in 2019 and increased to 4.92% by 2024. The most notable growth was in 2021, when the vacancy rate rose from 5.59% to 6.75%. The state achieved a cumulative growth of 28.11%.
Table 2: The Top 10 States With the Lowest Job Vacancy Growth Rate
| Rank | State | Job Posts rate (average %, 2019) | Job Posts rate (average %, 2020) | Job Posts rate (average %, 2021) | Job Posts rate (average %, 2022) | Job Posts rate (average %, 2023) | Job Posts rate (average%, 2024) | Job Posts rate (average, 2019-2024) | Cumulative Growth (%) |
| 1 | California | 4.22 | 3.97 | 5.79 | 6.60 | 4.75 | 3.61 | 4.82 | -14.39% |
| 2 | North Carolina | 5.78 | 4.64 | 6.83 | 7.30 | 6.35 | 5.17 | 6.01 | -10.48% |
| 3 | Hawaii | 4.48 | 4.22 | 6.09 | 6.01 | 4.94 | 4.10 | 4.97 | – 8.38% |
| 4 | Washington | 4.48 | 3.91 | 5.65 | 6.15 | 4.59 | 4.17 | 4.83 | – 6.99% |
| 5 | Indiana | 4.74 | 4.38 | 6.54 | 6.41 | 4.96 | 4.44 | 5.25 | – 6.36% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 5.56 | 4.41 | 6.28 | 6.73 | 6.16 | 5.28 | 5.74 | – 5.01% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 5.56 | 4.67 | 6.97 | 7.55 | 6.17 | 5.42 | 6.05 | – 2.49% |
| 8 | Utah | 4.91 | 4.38 | 6.09 | 6.67 | 5.76 | 4.81 | 5.44 | – 2.00% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 4.62 | 4.36 | 5.89 | 6.50 | 5.48 | 4.56 | 5.24 | – 1.23% |
| 10 | Iowa | 4.53 | 4.13 | 6.11 | 6.78 | 5.28 | 4.49 | 5.22 | – 0.96% |
- California: California’s job posts rate was 4.22% in 2019 and decreased to 3.61% by 2024. The vacancy rate dropped significantly from 2020 to 2024, with a steady decline each year. This led to a cumulative decrease of 14.39% over the six-year period.
- North Carolina: North Carolina started with a 5.78% vacancy rate in 2019, which fell to 5.17% by 2024. The state saw a steady drop, particularly from 2022 to 2024, resulting in a cumulative decrease of 10.48%.
- Hawaii: Hawaii’s job posts rate decreased from 4.48% in 2019 to 4.10% in 2024. The most significant decline occurred between 2020 and 2024, with a cumulative decrease of 8.38%.
The data highlights both growth and decline in recruitment activity among the different states between 2019 and 2024.
Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Connecticut have shown consistent growth in their vacancy rates, with Kentucky leading with a cumulative growth of 34.89%. These states saw steady increases, particularly in the early years of the study, suggesting a strengthening job market and possibly more job creation or better job availability. This initial growth was also before the global COVID-19 pandemic.
On the flip side, California, North Carolina, and Hawaii experienced a decline in their job vacancy rates. California witnessed the steepest decline, with a cumulative decrease of 14.39%. This could be caused by factors such as economic instability, higher competition for jobs, or more remote work opportunities reducing the need for physical vacancies.
Table 3: The 10 States With the Highest Average Vacancy Rate
| Rank | State | Population 2023 est. | Job Posts rate (average %, 2019-2024) |
| 1 | Alaska | 733,406 | 7.29% |
| 2 | West Virginia | 1,770,070 | 6.71% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,132,810 | 6.38% |
| 4 | South Carolina | 5,373,560 | 6.25% |
| 5 | Georgia | 11,029,200 | 6.22% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,180,250 | 6.11% |
| 7 | New Mexico | 2,114,370 | 6.06% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 584,057 | 6.05% |
| 9 | North Carolina | 10,835,500 | 6.01% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,715,700 | 6.01% |
- Alaska: Alaska has a population of approximately 733,406 people. The state’s average job vacancy rate from 2019 to 2024 was 7.29%, reflecting a high demand for workers.
- West Virginia: With a population of 1,770,070, West Virginia’s average job posts rate across the six-year period was 6.71%. This indicates a significant level of job vacancies in the state.
- Montana: Montana, with a population of 1,132,810, had an average job posts rate of 6.38%. This reflects a moderately high demand for workers in the state.
- South Carolina: South Carolina, home to 5,373,560 people, had a job posts rate of 6.25%. This suggests a healthy job market with relatively high vacancy levels.
- Georgia: With a population of 11,029,200, Georgia’s average job posts rate was 6.22%. The state shows strong job vacancy trends in comparison to other regions.
Table 4: The 10 States With the Lowest Average Vacancy Rate
| Rank | State | Population2023 est. | Job Posts rate (average %, 2019-2024) |
| 1 | New York | 19,571,200 | 4.62% |
| 2 | California | 38,965,200 | 4.82% |
| 3 | Washington | 7,812,880 | 4.83% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 3,617,180 | 4.92% |
| 5 | Hawaii | 1,435,140 | 4.97% |
| 6 | New Jersey | 9,290,840 | 5.16% |
| 7 | Texas | 30,503,300 | 5.21% |
| 8 | Iowa | 3,207,000 | 5.22% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,978,380 | 5.24% |
| 10 | Indiana | 6,862,200 | 5.25% |
- New York: New York has a population of 19.57 million people. The state’s average job post rate from 2019 to 2024 was 4.62%. This relatively low vacancy rate suggests a highly competitive job market with fewer job openings per capita.
- California: California, with a population of 38.96 million, had a job posts rate of 4.82% over the six-year period. Despite its large population, the state experiences a moderate job vacancy rate, indicating a stable labor market with fewer job openings compared to its size.
- Washington: Washington has a population of 7.81 million. The average job posts rate was 4.83%, which is very similar to California’s. This indicates a similar job market with moderate job vacancies.
“The changes in job vacancy rates across states show how different factors are shaping the job market,” Yurchak said. “States like Kentucky and Oklahoma have seen more job openings, likely due to growing industries and an increasing demand for workers. This suggests a strong local economy with more opportunities in fields such as healthcare and tech.
“In contrast, states like California and Hawaii have seen job vacancy rates drop,” she added. “This could be as a result of remote work becoming more common, reducing the need for in-person jobs, or because these markets are already saturated with talent. As more companies shift to remote or hybrid models, job vacancies may be spread more evenly across regions, impacting vacancy rates differently in each state.”
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