Thinking of moving for a better job? These 10 US states offer the strongest employment opportunities in 2026

A new WalletHub study ranks the best and worst states for finding work. The personal finance website compared all 50 states. It could help people who are thinking about moving for a better job.

WalletHub used 34 measures. They fall into two groups - 1) job market and 2) economic environment.

The measures include job opportunities, employment growth, unemployment, income, job security, employee benefits and commute times. The final ranking looks at how a state does across all of them. No single number, such as pay or unemployment, decides the result.

Why Nebraska came first

Nebraska took the top spot. Its unemployment rate is 3%. It has the fourth-highest employment growth rate in the country and the third-best job security. It also ranked fourth for the share of workers with private health insurance.

North Dakota came second. Its unemployment rate is 2.6%. Workers there spend about 17 minutes getting to work on average, the second-shortest commute in the country.

Minnesota placed third. Its median household income, adjusted for the cost of living, is nearly $88,000.

The 10 best states for jobs

1. Nebraska


2. North Dakota


3. Minnesota


4. South Dakota


5. New Hampshire


6. Washington


7. Maine


8. Texas


9. Hawaii


10. Tennessee

What WalletHub says about the top states

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said strong states give workers more stability over time. That helps people get through economic ups and downs, he said. In these states, it is easier to find and keep a job. Employers also tend to offer good pay and benefits.

Lupo added that the top states are good places to raise a family. They also rank well as places for working parents.

Where jobs are hardest to find

West Virginia ranked last. Oregon, Pennsylvania and Florida rounded out the bottom four.

The 10 lowest-ranked states are:

1. West Virginia


2. Oregon


3. Pennsylvania


4. Florida


5. Louisiana


6. Michigan


7. Kentucky


8. Mississippi


9. Arkansas


10. Oklahoma

The results show that the two can differ. Florida is a good example. It ranked 14th for its economic environment. But it ranked 49th for its job market.

That gap matters for anyone planning a move. A state with a healthy economy overall may still be a hard place to find work.

What to keep in mind before moving

The ranking is a broad guide. It averages many measures, so a state can score well overall and still be weak in one area. A state with a short commute, for example, may have lower pay.

Anyone thinking about a move should look at the details behind each ranking. Pay, benefits, job growth and commute time all affect daily life. Which of these matters most will depend on your job, your family and your plans.