20 States with the Fastest Job Growth in 2014

For the past four years, the US job market has registered an unsteady and highly fragile recovery, but experts seem to believe that the picture might look a lot brighter in 2014. According to USA Today, the national economy will add a total of 2.6 million jobs in 2014, 400,000 more than in 2013. However, the rate of job growth is often distributed unevenly throughout the country, so which states are more likely to expand their job markets? Following, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top 20 states in the US with the fastest job growth in 2014, based on the statistics issued by Moody’s Analytics. According to the experts at Moody’s, the West appears to be on a brighter track in 2014 than the rest of the country. 5 states out of the first ten are situated in the west (Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon). North Dakota is once again leading the pack, with a growth rate of 3.75%. At the other end of the spectrum, D.C. is the last of all 51 states, with a job growth rate of only 0.75%. When it comes to the type of jobs that will grow in 2014, the outlook differs from one state to another, and, in some cases, from one city to the other. For example, in New York, there will be a higher demand for event planners, while Florida will be on the lookout for construction masons. Nonetheless, health care jobs are expected to grow nationwide. Looking for a new job this year? Read below to find out whether you live in one of the lucky states. Let’s take a look at the countdown.

No. 20: Mississippi

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.66

Jobs added: 18,593

No. 19: Delaware

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.69

Jobs added: 7,121

No. 18: Nevada

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.74

Jobs added: 20,226

No. 17: Nebraska

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.75

Jobs added: 17,002

No. 16: Washington

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.76

Jobs added: 51,765

No. 15: California

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.8

Jobs added: 264.164

No. 14: West Virginia

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.83

Jobs added: 14,139

No. 13: Hawaii

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.84

Jobs added: 11,292

No. 12: Minnesota

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.85

Jobs added: 51,359

No. 11: North Carolina

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.98

Jobs added: 80.187

No. 10: Utah

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 1.98

Jobs added: 25,387

No. 9: Idaho

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 2.05

Jobs added: 13,110

No. 8: Oregon

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 2.14

Jobs added: 35,687

No. 7: South Carolina

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 2.14

Jobs added: 40,502

No. 6: Georgia

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 2.18

Jobs added: 87,998

No. 5: Florida

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 2.34

Jobs added: 176,423

No. 4: Colorado

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 2.67

Jobs added: 63.268

No. 3: Texas

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 2.75

Jobs added: 307,590

No. 2: Arizona

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 3.08

Jobs added: 77,251

No. 1: North Dakota

Public Domain Image: Public Domain

Growth rate (%): 3,57

Jobs added: 15,902