Considering a job change? It’s time to take a snapshot view of where the jobs are hot and where they are not. As a general rule, if hiring in a state is climbing then that might bode well for a growing economy and if a state is not hiring then the inverse may be true.
According to the BLS, here are where jobs are hot and not:
Job Openings In December, job openings rates increased in 7 states and decreased in 4 states. The largest increases in job openings rates occurred in Wyoming (+1.8 percentage points), Pennsylvania (+1.1 points), and Minnesota (+0.9 point). The job openings rates decreased in Alabama, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York (-0.5 point each). The number of job openings increased in 9 states and decreased in 6 states in December. The largest increases occurred in Pennsylvania (+73,000), New Jersey (+29,000), and Minnesota (+28,000). The largest decreases in the job openings level occurred in New York (-52,000), Michigan (-24,000), and Ohio (-22,000). Hires In December, hires rates decreased in 6 states and increased in 1 state. The largest decreases in hires rates occurred in Hawaii (-2.1 percentage points), Florida (-1.3 points), and Idaho (-0.8 point). The increase occurred in Virginia (+0.5 percentage point). The number of hires decreased in 7 states in December. The largest decreases occurred in Florida (-116,000), California (-76,000), and Illinois (-27,000). Nationally, the number of hires decreased 333,000. Total Separations In December, total separations rates decreased in 15 states and increased in 2 states. The largest decreases occurred in New Hampshire (-2.1 percentage points), and i and Montana (-1.5 points each). The total separations rate increased in Alaska (+2.2 percentage points) and Virginia (+0.8 point). The number of total separations decreased in 15 states in December and increased in 2 states. The largest decreases occurred in Pennsylvania (-55,000), Illinois (-40,000), and Georgia (-39,000). The increases in total separations level occurred in Virginia (+31,000) and Alaska (+7,000). Quits In December, quits rates decreased in 13 states and increased in 4 states. The largest decreases in quits rates occurred in New Hampshire (-1.6 percentage points), Montana (-1.0 point), and Kentucky (-0.9 point). The largest increases in the quits rate occurred in Alaska (+1.6 percentage points), Virginia (+0.7 point), and Ohio (+0.5 point). Over the month, the national quits rate was little changed. The number of quits decreased in 12 states and increased in 4 states in December. The largest decreases in the quits level occurred in North Carolina (-34,000), Illinois (-30,000), and Georgia (-24,000). The largest increases in the quits level occurred in Virginia (+28,000), Ohio (+26,000), and Missouri (+10,000). Layoffs and Discharges In December, layoffs and discharges rates decreased in 10 states and increased in 1 state. The largest decreases in layoffs and discharges rates occurred in Wyoming (-1.1 percentage points), Connecticut (-0.9 point), and Montana and Pennsylvania (-0.7 point each). The increase occurred in Indiana (+0.3 percentage point). The number of layoffs and discharges decreased in 9 states and increased in 1 state in December. The largest decreases in layoffs and discharges were in Pennsylvania (-44,000), Florida (-36,000), and New Jersey (-25,000). The increase occurred in Indiana (+11,000).
Anecdotally, some of us at Econonaut have been offered employment in Ohio, Minnesota, and Wyoming so it is interesting that the BLS reports syncs with some of our personal experiences and no, none of us have any interest in relocating to any of these states for a variety of reasons and we covered Ohio in our post, Intel’s $20 Billion Ohio Plant Mistake and much of that commentary applies to Minnesota and Wyoming.