A recent study by Podium AI has revealed significant disparities in job posting rates across the United States, with West Virginia emerging as the standout state. The state boasts a job opening rate of 6%, which is 36% higher than the national average of 4.4%. This translates to approximately 46,000 job vacancies, highlighting West Virginia’s unique position in the current employment landscape.
Following West Virginia, three states—Maine, North Carolina, and South Carolina—share the second spot with a job opening rate of 5.6%, which is 27% above the national average. North Carolina leads this trio with a staggering 301,000 job openings, while Maine and South Carolina have 39,000 and 143,000 openings, respectively.
In third place, Georgia, Montana, Oklahoma, and Virginia each report a job opening rate of 5.4%, showcasing variations in job availability. Georgia tops this group with 286,000 vacancies, followed closely by Virginia with 246,000 openings.
Arkansas comes in fourth with a rate of 5.3%, where employers are actively seeking to fill around 78,000 positions. The fifth spot is shared by Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Vermont, all with a job opening rate of 5.1%. Tennessee leads this group with 183,000 job openings, while Vermont has the lowest at 17,000.
At the other end of the spectrum, Washington state registers the lowest job opening rate in the country at just 3.7%, reflecting a significant 16% deficit compared to the national average. Despite having the fewest vacancies, Washington still offers 142,000 job openings.
California and Hawaii follow closely behind, each reporting a 3.8% job opening rate, 14% below the national average. California, however, remains at the forefront in total job openings, with around 702,000 available positions.
Overall, the research highlights the contrasting job markets across America, with some states thriving in employment opportunities while others struggle to match demand. The national tally of job openings currently sits at approximately 7.4 million, underscoring the uneven distribution of opportunities across the country.
As the job market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these trends shift and which states adapt to meet the growing demand for workers.
