Cities With the Most Job Openings in Every State
Can’t find a job? Consider relocating to one of these cities.
Cameron Huddleston
Life and Money ColumnistView Gallery
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If you’re looking for a job, the good news is that employers are hiring.
Although the U.S. economy has been slowing, the job market has remained strong. The unemployment rate hit a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. It edged up slightly in October to 3.6%, but the increase was caused in part by striking General Motors workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Overall, employers added 128,000 jobs in October. Some of the biggest gains were in the food, social and financial services industries. Average hourly earnings also increased slightly in October.
What was also notable in the October jobs report was the decline in the number of discouraged workers — people who weren’t looking for work because they believed there weren’t jobs available for them. The report showed that more people are feeling encouraged to return to the job market.
Of course, whether you can land a job — if you’re in the market for a new position or returning to the workforce — will depend on many things. One of those is the job market where you live. Although job growth has been steady nationwide, openings can vary greatly from city to city.
To find out where job seekers might have a greater chance of getting hired, GOBankingRates used data from CareerBuilder to identify the top three places in each state with the most job listings over the past year. Job posting data are for metro areas, which include both cities and surrounding suburbs. Some of these metro areas cross state lines, so they appear among the top places with the most job openings in multiple states. For example, Chicago appears as one of the cities with the most job openings in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin because the metro area expands into all of those states.
Knowing where there are more openings can help with your job search. Keep reading to find out which are the best places for job seekers.
Alabama
- Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama: 250,858
- Huntsville, Alabama: 114,370
- Montgomery, Alabama: 80,805
Alaska
- Anchorage, Alaska: 90,186
- Fairbanks, Alaska: 26,485
- Juneau, Alaska: 21,742
Arizona
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona: 901,487
- Tucson, Arizona: 159,640
- Prescott Valley-Prescott, Arizona: 38,449
Arkansas
- Memphis, Tennessee, metro area: 293,728
- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Arkansas: 176,664
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Arkansas: 123,169
California
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California: 2,301,867
- San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California: 1,519,991
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California: 730,357
Colorado
- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado: 913,188
- Colorado Springs, Colorado: 136,915
- Boulder, Colorado: 112,191
Connecticut
- Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, Connecticut: 311,773
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut: 218,059
- New Haven-Milford, Connecticut: 152,682
Delaware
- Philadelphia metro area: 1,422,399
- Salisbury, Maryland, metro area: 87,969
- Dover, Delaware: 54,449
District of Columbia
- Washington D.C. metro area: 2,101,962
Florida
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida: 935,042
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida: 557,911
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida: 460,615
Georgia
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia: 1,344,257
- Augusta, Georgia/Richmond County metro area: 117,023
- Chattanooga, Tennessee, metro area: 114,226
Hawaii
- Honolulu, Hawaii: 127,950
- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii: 26,807
- Hilo, Hawaii: 17,744
Idaho
- Boise, Idaho: 154,121
- Idaho Falls, Idaho: 31,972
- Twin Falls, Idaho: 21,223
Illinois
- Chicago metro area: 2,180,539
- St. Louis metro area: 718,659
- Peoria, Illinois: 108,418
Indiana
- Chicago metro area: 2,180,539
- Cincinnati metro area: 555,953
- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Indiana: 501,460
Iowa
- Omaha, Nebraska, metro area: 255,354
- Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa: 226,006
- Davenport, Iowa, metro area: 107,329
Kansas
- Kansas City, Kansas, metro area: 595,468
- Wichita, Kansas: 145,696
- Topeka, Kansas: 68,744
Kentucky
- Cincinnati metro area: 555,953
- Louisville, Kentucky/Jefferson County metro area: 289,928
- Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky: 130,105
Louisiana
- New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana: 244,518
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 163,768
- Lafayette, Louisiana: 71,427
Maine
- Portland-South Portland, Maine: 157,174
- Augusta-Waterville, Maine: 49,163
- Bangor, Maine: 42,051
Maryland
- Washington D.C. metro area: 2,101,962
- Philadelphia metro area: 1,422,399
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland: 757,243
Massachusetts
- Boston metro area: 1,553,944
- Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island, metro area: 368,824
- Worcester, Massachusetts, metro area: 197,366
Michigan
- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Michigan: 890,363
- Grand Rapids-Kentwood, Michigan: 215,910
- Lansing-East Lansing, Michigan: 132,600
Minnesota
- Minneapolis metro area: 1,147,081
- Fargo, North Dakota, metro area: 74,696
- Duluth, Minnesota: 66,118
Mississippi
- Memphis, Tennessee, metro area: 293,647
- Jackson, Mississippi: 149,649
- Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi: 69,843
Missouri
- St. Louis metro area: 718,659
- Kansas City, Missouri, metro area: 595,468
- Springfield, Missouri: 101,122
Montana
- Billings, Montana: 61,738
- Helena, Montana: 43,251
- Bozeman, Montana: 33,789
Nebraska
- Omaha, Nebraska, metro area: 255,354
- Lincoln, Nebraska: 86,061
- Sioux City, South Dakota, metro area: 42,960
Nevada
- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada: 341,361
- Reno, Nevada: 111,994
- Carson City, Nevada: 24,770
New Hampshire
- Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire: 131,605
- Lebanon, New Hampshire: 79,833
- Concord, New Hampshire: 54,065
New Jersey
- New York metro area: 3,517,639
- Philadelphia metro area: 1,422,399
- Trenton-Princeton, New Jersey: 149,097
New Mexico
- Albuquerque, New Mexico: 173,700
- Santa Fe, New Mexico: 42,598
- Las Cruces, New Mexico: 36,606
New York
- New York metro area: 3,517,639
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York: 229,777
- Rochester, New York: 224,158
North Carolina
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina: 619,840
- Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina: 369,206
- Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina: 169,553
North Dakota
- Fargo, North Dakota, metro area: 74,696
- Bismarck, North Dakota: 41,729
- Grand Forks, North Dakota, metro area: 36,065
Ohio
- Cincinnati metro area: 555,953
- Columbus, Ohio: 532,052
- Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio: 505,539
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City: 285,197
- Tulsa, Oklahoma: 204,789
- Fort Smith, Arkansas, metro area: 49,199
Oregon
- Portland, Oregon, metro area: 646,971
- Salem, Oregon: 86,059
- Eugene-Springfield, Oregon: 69,697
Pennsylvania
- New York metro area: 3,517,639
- Philadelphia metro area: 1,422,399
- Pittsburgh: 650,228
Rhode Island
- Providence, Rhode Island, metro area: 368,824
South Carolina
- Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina: 194,525
- Columbia, South Carolina: 189,498
- Greenville-Anderson, South Carolina: 173,628
South Dakota
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota: 75,921
- Sioux City, South Dakota, metro area: 42,960
- Rapid City, South Dakota: 32,810
Tennessee
- Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee: 570,384
- Memphis, Tennessee, metro area: 293,647
- Knoxville, Tennessee: 170,980
Texas
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas: 1,693,296
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas: 1,061,448
- Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas: 547,648
Utah
- Salt Lake City: 356,421
- Provo-Orem, Utah: 112,390
- Ogden-Clearfield, Utah: 112,351
Vermont
- Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont: 84,050
- Barre, Vermont: 38,974
- Rutland, Vermont: 21,953
Virginia
- Washington D.C. metro area: 2,101,962
- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia: 412,623
- Richmond, Virginia: 329,451
Washington
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington: 1,191,182
- Portland, Oregon, metro area: 646,971
- Spokane-Spokane Valley, Washington: 95,580
West Virginia
- Washington D.C. metro area: 2,101,962
- Charleston, West Virginia: 103,465
- Huntington, West Virginia, metro area: 75,559
Wisconsin
- Chicago metro area: 2,180,539
- Minneapolis metro area: 1,147,081
- Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wisconsin: 438,640
Wyoming
- Cheyenne, Wyoming: 43,671
- Casper, Wyoming: 22,261
- Gillette, Wyoming: 17,312
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Disclaimer: Certain metropolitan areas listed have borders that overlap with multiple states. Therefore, some of the cities listed may not be located within that particular state.
About the Author
Cameron Huddleston
Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning journalist with more than 18 years of experience writing about personal finance. Her work has appeared in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, Fortune, MSN, USA Today and many more print and online publications. She also is the author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances.
U.S. News & World Report named her one of the top personal finance experts to follow on Twitter, and AOL Daily Finance named her one of the top 20 personal finance influencers to follow on Twitter. She has appeared on CNBC, CNN, MSNBC and “Fox & Friends” and has been a guest on ABC News Radio, Wall Street Journal Radio, NPR, WTOP in Washington, D.C., KGO in San Francisco and other personal finance radio shows nationwide. She also has been interviewed and quoted as an expert in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, MarketWatch and more.
She has an MA in economic journalism from American University and BA in journalism and Russian studies from Washington & Lee University.
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If you’re looking for a job, the good news is that employers are hiring.
Although the U.S. economy has been slowing, the job market has remained strong. The unemployment rate hit a 50-year low of 3.5% in September. It edged up slightly in October to 3.6%, but the increase was caused in part by striking General Motors workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Overall, employers added 128,000 jobs in October. Some of the biggest gains were in the food, social and financial services industries. Average hourly earnings also increased slightly in October.
What was also notable in the October jobs report was the decline in the number of discouraged workers — people who weren’t looking for work because they believed there weren’t jobs available for them. The report showed that more people are feeling encouraged to return to the job market.
Of course, whether you can land a job — if you’re in the market for a new position or returning to the workforce — will depend on many things. One of those is the job market where you live. Although job growth has been steady nationwide, openings can vary greatly from city to city.
To find out where job seekers might have a greater chance of getting hired, GOBankingRates used data from CareerBuilder to identify the top three places in each state with the most job listings over the past year. Job posting data are for metro areas, which include both cities and surrounding suburbs. Some of these metro areas cross state lines, so they appear among the top places with the most job openings in multiple states. For example, Chicago appears as one of the cities with the most job openings in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin because the metro area expands into all of those states.
Knowing where there are more openings can help with your job search. Keep reading to find out which are the best places for job seekers.
Alabama
- Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama: 250,858
- Huntsville, Alabama: 114,370
- Montgomery, Alabama: 80,805
Alaska
- Anchorage, Alaska: 90,186
- Fairbanks, Alaska: 26,485
- Juneau, Alaska: 21,742
Arizona
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona: 901,487
- Tucson, Arizona: 159,640
- Prescott Valley-Prescott, Arizona: 38,449
Arkansas
- Memphis, Tennessee, metro area: 293,728
- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Arkansas: 176,664
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Arkansas: 123,169
California
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California: 2,301,867
- San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California: 1,519,991
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California: 730,357
Colorado
- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado: 913,188
- Colorado Springs, Colorado: 136,915
- Boulder, Colorado: 112,191
Connecticut
- Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, Connecticut: 311,773
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut: 218,059
- New Haven-Milford, Connecticut: 152,682
Delaware
- Philadelphia metro area: 1,422,399
- Salisbury, Maryland, metro area: 87,969
- Dover, Delaware: 54,449
District of Columbia
- Washington D.C. metro area: 2,101,962
Florida
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida: 935,042
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida: 557,911
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida: 460,615
Georgia
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia: 1,344,257
- Augusta, Georgia/Richmond County metro area: 117,023
- Chattanooga, Tennessee, metro area: 114,226
Hawaii
- Honolulu, Hawaii: 127,950
- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii: 26,807
- Hilo, Hawaii: 17,744
Idaho
- Boise, Idaho: 154,121
- Idaho Falls, Idaho: 31,972
- Twin Falls, Idaho: 21,223
Illinois
- Chicago metro area: 2,180,539
- St. Louis metro area: 718,659
- Peoria, Illinois: 108,418
Indiana
- Chicago metro area: 2,180,539
- Cincinnati metro area: 555,953
- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Indiana: 501,460
Iowa
- Omaha, Nebraska, metro area: 255,354
- Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa: 226,006
- Davenport, Iowa, metro area: 107,329
Kansas
- Kansas City, Kansas, metro area: 595,468
- Wichita, Kansas: 145,696
- Topeka, Kansas: 68,744
Kentucky
- Cincinnati metro area: 555,953
- Louisville, Kentucky/Jefferson County metro area: 289,928
- Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky: 130,105
Louisiana
- New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana: 244,518
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 163,768
- Lafayette, Louisiana: 71,427
Maine
- Portland-South Portland, Maine: 157,174
- Augusta-Waterville, Maine: 49,163
- Bangor, Maine: 42,051
Maryland
- Washington D.C. metro area: 2,101,962
- Philadelphia metro area: 1,422,399
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland: 757,243
Massachusetts
- Boston metro area: 1,553,944
- Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island, metro area: 368,824
- Worcester, Massachusetts, metro area: 197,366
Michigan
- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Michigan: 890,363
- Grand Rapids-Kentwood, Michigan: 215,910
- Lansing-East Lansing, Michigan: 132,600
Minnesota
- Minneapolis metro area: 1,147,081
- Fargo, North Dakota, metro area: 74,696
- Duluth, Minnesota: 66,118
Mississippi
- Memphis, Tennessee, metro area: 293,647
- Jackson, Mississippi: 149,649
- Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi: 69,843
Missouri
- St. Louis metro area: 718,659
- Kansas City, Missouri, metro area: 595,468
- Springfield, Missouri: 101,122
Montana
- Billings, Montana: 61,738
- Helena, Montana: 43,251
- Bozeman, Montana: 33,789
Nebraska
- Omaha, Nebraska, metro area: 255,354
- Lincoln, Nebraska: 86,061
- Sioux City, South Dakota, metro area: 42,960
Nevada
- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada: 341,361
- Reno, Nevada: 111,994
- Carson City, Nevada: 24,770
New Hampshire
- Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire: 131,605
- Lebanon, New Hampshire: 79,833
- Concord, New Hampshire: 54,065
New Jersey
- New York metro area: 3,517,639
- Philadelphia metro area: 1,422,399
- Trenton-Princeton, New Jersey: 149,097
New Mexico
- Albuquerque, New Mexico: 173,700
- Santa Fe, New Mexico: 42,598
- Las Cruces, New Mexico: 36,606
New York
- New York metro area: 3,517,639
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York: 229,777
- Rochester, New York: 224,158
North Carolina
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina: 619,840
- Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina: 369,206
- Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina: 169,553
North Dakota
- Fargo, North Dakota, metro area: 74,696
- Bismarck, North Dakota: 41,729
- Grand Forks, North Dakota, metro area: 36,065
Ohio
- Cincinnati metro area: 555,953
- Columbus, Ohio: 532,052
- Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio: 505,539
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City: 285,197
- Tulsa, Oklahoma: 204,789
- Fort Smith, Arkansas, metro area: 49,199
Oregon
- Portland, Oregon, metro area: 646,971
- Salem, Oregon: 86,059
- Eugene-Springfield, Oregon: 69,697
Pennsylvania
- New York metro area: 3,517,639
- Philadelphia metro area: 1,422,399
- Pittsburgh: 650,228
Rhode Island
- Providence, Rhode Island, metro area: 368,824
South Carolina
- Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina: 194,525
- Columbia, South Carolina: 189,498
- Greenville-Anderson, South Carolina: 173,628
South Dakota
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota: 75,921
- Sioux City, South Dakota, metro area: 42,960
- Rapid City, South Dakota: 32,810
Tennessee
- Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee: 570,384
- Memphis, Tennessee, metro area: 293,647
- Knoxville, Tennessee: 170,980
Texas
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas: 1,693,296
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas: 1,061,448
- Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas: 547,648
Utah
- Salt Lake City: 356,421
- Provo-Orem, Utah: 112,390
- Ogden-Clearfield, Utah: 112,351
Vermont
- Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont: 84,050
- Barre, Vermont: 38,974
- Rutland, Vermont: 21,953
Virginia
- Washington D.C. metro area: 2,101,962
- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia: 412,623
- Richmond, Virginia: 329,451
Washington
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington: 1,191,182
- Portland, Oregon, metro area: 646,971
- Spokane-Spokane Valley, Washington: 95,580
West Virginia
- Washington D.C. metro area: 2,101,962
- Charleston, West Virginia: 103,465
- Huntington, West Virginia, metro area: 75,559
Wisconsin
- Chicago metro area: 2,180,539
- Minneapolis metro area: 1,147,081
- Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wisconsin: 438,640
Wyoming
- Cheyenne, Wyoming: 43,671
- Casper, Wyoming: 22,261
- Gillette, Wyoming: 17,312
More From GOBankingRates
- Your Best Age to Retire
- Ally Bank Review: Competitive Rates for Online Customers
- Best Travel Credit Cards
- 16 Effective Ways To Trick Yourself Into Saving Money
Disclaimer: Certain metropolitan areas listed have borders that overlap with multiple states. Therefore, some of the cities listed may not be located within that particular state.
About the Author
Cameron Huddleston
Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning journalist with more than 18 years of experience writing about personal finance. Her work has appeared in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, Fortune, MSN, USA Today and many more print and online publications. She also is the author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances.
U.S. News & World Report named her one of the top personal finance experts to follow on Twitter, and AOL Daily Finance named her one of the top 20 personal finance influencers to follow on Twitter. She has appeared on CNBC, CNN, MSNBC and “Fox & Friends” and has been a guest on ABC News Radio, Wall Street Journal Radio, NPR, WTOP in Washington, D.C., KGO in San Francisco and other personal finance radio shows nationwide. She also has been interviewed and quoted as an expert in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, MarketWatch and more.
She has an MA in economic journalism from American University and BA in journalism and Russian studies from Washington & Lee University.