The Top 11 States To Find A Job: Gallup

Gallup has published its latest Job Creation Index, providing a state-by-state comparison of which states predominately hired, fired, and stood pat in 2010. As the U.S. job market struggled, the highest-ranking states relied on one of three industries: agriculture, natural resource extraction, or federal government work.

But not all jobs -- or state economies -- are created equal, and many of the states on Gallup's list often create low-paying jobs. Arkansas, for example, ranks fifth best on Gallup's Job Creation Index, but its median household income is a $39,392, good for second-worst in the country. Maryland, on the other hand, might rank lower on the index, but it has the third-highest median household income in the country.

Gallup based its rankings on nearly 200,000 interviews conducted only with employed adults. Interviewees said whether their company was hiring, not changing in size or laying off workers. The Job Creation Index number represents that difference between "the percentage reporting an expansion and the percentage reporting a reduction in their workforces."

To give you a better picture of the job situation in the states below, we've included household income data from the Census, unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics andGDP per capita from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

For the full Gallup report, click here.

What do you think ? Where would you move in order get a job?

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11. Pennsylvania

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2010 Job Creation Index: 13 Percent Hiring: 31.2 Percent Letting Go: 18.8 Unemployment Rate: 8.5% (Dec. 2010) GDP Per Capita: $39,578 (19/51) Median Household Income: $49,829 (26/51)

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2010 Job Creation Index: 13
Percent Hiring: 31.2
Percent Letting Go: 18.8
Unemployment Rate: 8.5% (Dec. 2010)
GDP Per Capita: $39,578 (19/51)
Median Household Income: $49,829 (26/51)

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Comments

[Jenny M Derfler]

11:33 AM on 04/13/2011

I HATE MARYLAND!!!

[andrwny]

01:39 PM on 04/03/2011

I was also unemployed for 10 months, just worked part-time jobs. That was a very difficult time for me. I don't even wanna remember. But then I tried with a company which works in a different system, it's not typical sales job. New York Business Partners. And their interview process is so simple. If you're good at sales & people, definitely give it a try! You can make a lot of money, if you work hard. Hmm.. If you want a relax, lazy job, this is not for you. ;)

www.facebook.com/newyorkbusinesspartners

[Druidblue]

09:46 PM on 03/22/2011

I've been unemployed since the end of 2002 due to the inability to get full, quality, no cost treatment for my generalized anxiety disorder that prevents me from working PRIOR to receiving care.

Humorously, I am often told by others (mostly Conservative) that if you can't find work, you "just move!"

Just move, huh? So, where's the money come for packing supplies? Renting a moving truck? Gas to drive to the new location? What about the money for a new place to live? What about those of us who've had their credit ruined when a former employer didn't pay them, making it nearly impossible to get an apartment complex to agree to a lease- for nothing you did wrong. Say you DO get the apartment... Where's the money come from for the security deposit? First and last month's rent? Food money, to stock the new fridge?

This is the wisdom lacking (and how thought-challenged our nation currently is) from so many naive people out there.

Also- what of those of us who live EXACTLY where we desire? Why should we have to move to have the job we desire? (Answer: We shouldn't, period. Any other way is broken thinking.)

[shmoonie]

11:36 PM on 03/04/2011

If you decide to come to Alaska, make sure you have a job lined up. Or you'll be working for walmart or target and their wages are no where near 65,000 dollars a year. Rent for a apartment is running about a thousand a month plus utilities. Houses about $1500 or more a month plus utilities. Food is about a 1/3 to 1/2 more than the lower forty eight states. We also have the dum best polit icans on the planet except for TX and SC. (ok they're just as dum b as those two states).

[Richard Clay]

12:32 PM on 03/05/2011

Florida can be added to that list of DUMB politicians!

[shmoonie]

10:46 PM on 03/05/2011

Alas, after I finished I started thinking about WI, MS etc and got depressed. Too many!

[saltpeter]

10:57 PM on 03/02/2011

Beware of Red States bearing an overabundance of service industry jobs. A short decade ago Las Vegas was the next big thing with the model for job creation and look at it now. Short-term fixes that don't get reinvested into schools and infrastructure and huge corporate welfare for oil does not a sustainable economy make.

[John Howell]

11:53 AM on 03/04/2011

Beware of Blue States that FORCE union membership, then authorize the use of the stolen funds for political activity. Beware of Blue States with struggling economies that are overburdened with obligations to public employee unions and that are broke. Migration patterns over the past 50 years have shown movement from high tax to low tax, business friendly states. All those people can't be wrong.

[hypnotoad72]

01:23 PM on 03/04/2011

Maybe those states' governors should do their jobs and bring in jobs instead of cutting taxes for large corporations, saying how that creates jobs (yet haven't as a result since the "tax cuts create jobs" meme started in the early-2000s while jobs kept shedding), and as a result those tax cuts led to infrastructure cuts. It's a downward-spiral. Also, if you think about it, the stagnation or devaluation of any job - in public or PRIVATE sector, isn't going to help the economy recover. http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/01/vicious-cycle-stagnant-wages

[saltpeter]

04:49 PM on 03/04/2011

Beware of people bearing right wing talking points trying to defend the failures of trickle down economics. Even with those bottom dwelling states where there are jobs, the unemployed in Blue States still make more money off of pensions and unemployment. In other words, if jobs still equals poverty then those aren't the kind of jobs you should be proud of.

And actually migration pattern have shown that states that have high hispanic populations are the ones with the biggest population booms. Even your Fox News overlords agree:

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2010/12/21/states-hispanics-home-large-population-growth-gain-seats/

And, unfortunately, many of the jobs done by that hispanic population are low wage jobs. Again, you must be proud. And the facts as you see it don't support your claims.

[saltpeter]

10:26 PM on 03/02/2011

The only states that should be commended for creating jobs are those that are creating jobs that actually help maintain a healthy middle class. Many of those states on the list still dwell at the bottom for wages. Creating more low wage jobs while CEOs prosper off of tax cuts and incentives is not a victory in the long run. Even if you move to those states for a job, you'll still have to contend with high rates of poverty, illiteracy and citizens who are uninsured. A band-aid of a spate of low-wage jobs won't fix that problem.

[hypnotoad72]

01:23 PM on 03/04/2011

Very true - F&F

[Derrick Pride]

07:46 PM on 03/02/2011

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[gomezruleson]

05:53 PM on 03/02/2011

Washington DC is a state? When did that happen?

[signgrrl]

12:59 PM on 03/04/2011

maybe now they'll get their representation . . .. . . . .

[Richard Clay]

12:36 PM on 03/05/2011

Won't happen.

[MRITechnologist]

11:48 AM on 03/02/2011

I live in a rural area that has always been plagued by high unemployment. About a decade or so back I heard a Circuit City hub was going to move in. I thought great I can go shop at a Circuit City. Not so fast! It was a warehouse hub. No store. Nothing for me to buy. Nor were there any plans to open one. Several people were happy to have a job. Of course it was minimum wage. I pointed out to people that thought it was so great that sure they will build warehouse because of cheap land and cheap labor but we weren't good enough to open a store. The hub is closed now due to the demise of CC and those folks who had long term temporary unemployment are now unemployed again. Cautionary tale of new businesses moving into your area. States where companies are moving are doing so because the people are in dire straights and will work for next to nothing! Right to work states this means you! Crow all you want but you will be undercut someday.

[signgrrl]

01:00 PM on 03/04/2011

and sooner rather than later . . . .

[UberdanSounds]

12:38 PM on 03/05/2011

Nailed it!

[ruburnt]

11:45 AM on 03/02/2011

Looking for an automotive job....noticed that Texas had more jobs in that field than anywhere else...

[MRITechnologist]

11:13 AM on 03/02/2011

How do you write a story about which state has the best employment opportunity percentage without a mention of what field the jobs are in?

[eyecon]

10:09 AM on 03/02/2011

I see that Iowa is on the list. Gee marriage equality sure messed up everything.

[costellowriter]

06:21 AM on 03/02/2011

This is no joke. Our retirement savings are all being taken right now. Read this, and take action, or we all lose everything.
http://socyberty.com/society/defend-freedom-now/

[R U Sirius]

08:35 AM on 03/02/2011

Couldn't concentrate on reading content because I was dealing with all the flying banners and pop-ups on that site.

[steveoh77]

10:33 AM on 03/02/2011

If it's on the internet, it must be true?

Come on, while we need to prosecute the crooks on Wall Street to set an example, let's get off the "sky is falling" concept.

This Nation will endure, we're just going to have to quit fighting with each other and start working with each other.


And sadly, it all starts with the Banks and their Partners at the Fed and the White House.

It's time for "borrower's rights laws". The first being quite simple, you can not foreclose on any real estate loan (commercial or home) where the owner is paying the interest rate stated in the note (not default interest) and maintaining the property while deferring principal payments.

[jcarterla]

05:00 AM on 03/02/2011

Not only do most of these states make me shudder to even think about living in them, what are you supposed to do when you can't afford to move?

[R U Sirius]

08:36 AM on 03/02/2011

BINGO. Fanned and faved.

[ruburnt]

12:00 PM on 03/02/2011

Maybe ask the employer for relocation?

[Richard Clay]

12:41 PM on 03/05/2011

Most companies don't relocate (especially for the lower paying jobs). Besides that you may be better off doing it on your own since company relocation expenses could be deducted from your salary. Company paid relocation is fine if your salary is high.