Data reveals South Carolina leads the nation in job openings. Which US states have seen the most growth in job openings over the past six years? South Carolina ranks #7 in job openings.
On the down side, often these type job openings are not desired by workers. S.C. ranks #4 in jobs available with no applicants. 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.
Key Findings:
- Recent study shows which states in the USA have seen the highest growth in rate of job openings each year, and the ones with the lowest
- Surprisingly, Kentucky and Oklahoma lead in annual job opening rates growth, while California and North Carolina have
- Study also looks at which states experienced the biggest and small growth rates in number of job vacancies, with Kentucky leading
The US 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,” 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 US 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 Openings Growth Rate
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.
The 10 States With The Highest Average Vacancy Rate
- 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.
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