Looking for a job? A vibrant economy in which to launch your new business? A new market for your firm’s next expansion? The Kiplinger Letter’s annual state economic outlooks help job-seekers, entrepreneurs and business executives to get ahead of shifts in job creation and GDP in different markets across the country.
The following 15 states are likely to see the fastest employment gains next year, from 2.1% to 4.0%, all topping the 1.8% national average. Not all will see the highest numbers of new jobs, an honor that almost always goes to the most populous states, even if their rate of growth is slower. That’s the case this year with Texas and New York. But three large states — California, Florida and North Carolina — will be among the 15 fastest-growing and the five with the biggest gains. Northeastern states will see the least growth.
Meanwhile, look for unemployment rates to continue to decline in almost all the states. The U.S. unemployment rate, as of September, was 5.1%.