New data reveals which states struggle with hiring most – Wyoming worst, Vermont not bad

• Wyoming has been named the state struggling to hire the most, with almost two-fifths (40%) of job postings staying unfulfilled for at least three months  

• Vermont ranked 10th best by Indeed.com data based on online job postings

• The new study analyzed data from popular job site Indeed to identify which states are struggling to fill job positions the most, based on how long ads stay listed 

• The second and third states struggling most with hiring were found to be Alaska and New Hampshire, while South Dakota is the state with the fewest issues  

• An expert offers tips to help recruiters strengthen their job ads, including not omitting key information and highlighting the perks of the role before posting  

Vermont Business Magazine A new study has found the states in America that are struggling to fill online job postings, with Wyoming being named the worst state for employment. 

A study by small business consulting organization Venture Smarter analyzed data from Indeed to determine which states have difficulties with recruitment, based on the number of current job postings listed in each area, and the proportion which remain active for an extended period.  

The data revealed that it was Wyoming that struggles to fill job positions the most, as almost two-fifths (39.7%) of all postings were active for more than three months. In fact, the findings also show that 54.7% of job listings in the state were over a month old. 

The second state that struggled to fill job postings was Alaska, where 37.3% of active job openings were older than three months. In Alaska, it was also revealed that over 60% of listings opened were older than a month.  

New Hampshire was named the third worst state for hiring, with just over a third (35.3%) of job postings on the site being three months or older. The data revealed that over half (53%) of the job listings in New Hampshire were more than a month old.  

In Mississippi, just under a third (32.9%) of the job listings had been open for over three months, showing many employers are struggling to find suitable candidates.  

The top ten states most struggling to hire.  

However, not everywhere in America is struggling to hire workers; some states are doing better to fill positions, with South Dakota being crowned the state that struggles least with employment.  

In South Dakota, just over one-fifth (22.4%) of job postings had been open for more than three months, while 46% of jobs active listings were discovered to be older than one month.  

The analysis also revealed that the second-best state for hiring was Minnesota; in the state, just 23.8% of active job openings were older than three months. The third state struggling least was Kansas, as just over a quarter (25.2%) of the job listings were older than three months. 

The top ten states struggling the least to hire 

Speaking on the findings, an expert from Venture Smarter advised: “In today's tough job market, employers are seeking the best candidates to fill their positions. Therefore, standing out from the crowd is more important than ever – but it’s not just candidates who need to make an impression.  

 “Many job seekers will actively search for a new job at the start of the new year, so if you’re keen to fill a role within your company, it’s vital that any position is advertised well to attract applicants. 

“To ensure the position is advertised effectively, consider using a clear, concise, and reflective job title. Write a brief and compelling summary highlighting the role and the impact the position will have on your organization.  Include a brief company overview that explains its mission, values, and culture.  

“If your company or the position has a unique selling point, make sure it is clearly stated in the listing. It’s a good idea to highlight any competitive perks such as insurance or bonuses and ensure that you sell your company to the applicant so that they can be enthusiastic about the role.” 

“To make the listing easy to read and understand, ensure the layout is clear and pleasing. Break down any long information into easy-to-read sections using bullet points and subheadings. Finally, end the listing with a clear call to action, encouraging qualified candidates to apply.” 

Full state ranking, from worst to best for hiring employees. 

Methodology  

Data was scraped from Indeed in each state; looking at the total number of listings and how many days ago they were posted, which allowed us to figure out the ‘percentage of open jobs’ metric. 

Source: 1.17.2023. Venture Smarter