The US states with the happiest and unhappiest workers revealed
Daniel Coughlin
06 February 2018
The states with the highest and lowest job satisfaction
Love every minute of your job or can't wait to tender your resignation? It might have something to do with where you live, according to a survey by career test platform Sokanu. Employees were asked about five areas of their career and general wellbeing: purpose, social, financial, community and physical, with questions ranging from “Do you like what you do each day?” to “How's your health and energy?”. Read on to find out where your state ranks for workplace wellbeing.
1 Happiest. Hawaii
The Aloha State tops the survey with America's most contented workers. Living in a chilled-out tropical paradise certainly helps, and the state's chief employers, which include the University of Hawaii System, achieve stellar job satisfaction scores. Plus, Alaska's super-low unemployment rate of 2.6% means workers can be picky and move to a nicer job should the mood take them.
2. Alaska
In contrast, Alaska has the highest unemployment rate in the US at 7.2%, but its workers are second only to Hawaii in the job satisfaction stakes. This could be explained in part by the Last Frontier's healthy outdoorsy lifestyle and its bumper salaries – wages in Alaska are 12% higher than the national average.
3. Wyoming
Up three places from last year's survey, Wyoming now has the third happiest workers in America. Similar to Alaska, the Equality State boasts zero income tax, an outdoors-focused lifestyle and plenty of decent-paying jobs in the energy industry, a sector that enjoys a high level of job satisfaction.
4. New Mexico
Another climber, New Mexico moves up a staggering 42 places in this year's Sokanu survey as job satisfaction hits an all-time high. For proof, just check out the glowing write-ups on job review site Glassdoor for the University of New Mexico, the state's biggest non-governmental employer.
5. West Virginia
A resurgence in the coal industry over the past few years and an increase in well-paid jobs could be behind the high employee satisfaction rate in West Virginia, though the state is still plagued by one of the worst unemployment rates in the country.
6. Maine
Over in New England, Maine has the most fulfilled workers. The Pine Tree State is renowned for its relaxed pace of life, and Maine's largest employers, Hannaford Supermarkets and MaineHealth, are consistently voted great places to work by their staff.
7. Nevada
Nevada is synonymous with legal gambling, and its largest employers, which include MGM Resorts International, are casinos and hotels, which may explain the state's high levels of job satisfaction: several studies have found that people who work in these industries are among the happiest.
8. South Dakota
Unhappy workers in South Dakota can quit and find something they like with ease. In fact, the Mount Rushmore State is notable for having a chronic skills shortage, and Sioux Falls, its most populous city, has the lowest unemployment rate of any metro area in the country.
9. Louisiana
The Pelican State leaps up the rankings this year, climbing an impressive 14 spots for 2018 amid an improving job market. Unemployment is falling in Louisiana and job creation is rising, increasing opportunities and general workplace wellbeing.
10. Montana
Montana is blessed with more than its fair share of factors that make for a happy workforce, from low unemployment to a stress-free lifestyle that is more about making the most of the outdoors than working yourself into the ground.
11. California
Job satisfaction is high in the Golden State, which figures, given the concentration of jobs in the creative industries, which is the highest in America. The Sokanu survey showed creative roles such as film director, video games developer and music producer are the most rewarding.
12. Arkansas
Arkansas has the 12th happiest workers in America according to the Sokanu survey, but a major study published in September by the Conference Board found that Arkansas has the most unsatisfied workforce out of every state analysed.
13. Idaho
Happy workers abound in Idaho, which takes the 13th spot this year. Sokanu's findings are backed up by a 2016 Twitter-based study by Monster and Brandwatch, which found that employees in Idaho are more satisfied than most.
14. Florida
Job satisfaction levels in Florida may have more to do with the lifestyle than anything else. The Sunshine State offers workers everything from year-round warmth to limitless entertainment opportunities, which can work wonders on their general wellbeing.
15. Mississippi
Mississippi may not be the hottest destination for job seekers in the US, but the Magnolia State has one very attractive draw: the lowest cost of living in the country. Salaries go further in Mississippi, which takes the pressure off and boosts job satisfaction levels no end.
16. Utah
The Beehive State ticks all sorts of employee-friendly boxes with its affordable cost of living, high salaries, low unemployment, and more. In fact, a study released in October by Glassdoor revealed that Salt Lake City is the metro area with America's third happiest workers.
17. Virginia
Virginia bags the 17th spot this year. The job market in the state, which has a higher than average number of government roles due to its proximity to Washington DC, is growing, offering ample opportunities for employees looking to further their career.
18. Texas
The Lone Star State is home to a large number of energy companies with enviable employee satisfaction rates, and scores highly on other metrics including employee health and cost of living.
19. Arizona
Arizona has the 19th happiest workers in America according to the Sokanu survey. The state, which has experienced explosive job growth in recent years, is particularly attractive to entrepreneurs, thanks to factors such as low business taxes and a general can-do attitude.
20. Kansas
Believe it or not, Kansas has one of the most dynamic job markets in America. Jobs are abundant, competition is low and opportunities for career progression are plentiful. No wonder the state has so many contented employees.
21. Indiana
Unemployment is almost at an all-time low in Indiana, and the increase in jobs is having a knock-on effect on employee satisfaction rates. This year, the Hoosier State has the 21st happiest workers in the US.
22. Georgia
Workers in Georgia are the 22nd happiest in America. The largest employer in the state is Walmart, which has introduced several measures to improve employee wellbeing, including upping the minimum wage to $11 an hour, awarding cash bonuses and expanding parental leave benefits.
23. Oklahoma
Walmart is the largest employer in Oklahoma too, with a total of 34,014 staff in the state. Other large-scale employers in the state include INTEGRIS Health and the University of Oklahoma, both of which have excellent employee satisfaction rates.
24. Nebraska
Staff turnover numbers in Nebraska are among the lowest in the country, and the unemployment rate in the state is just 2.9%, which gives you a good indication how happy workers in the Cornhusker State are with their jobs.
25. Minnesota
Workers in Minnesota are neither overly happy or desperately discontented with their jobs. According to the Sokanu survey, Minnesota falls more or less halfway between the state with the happiest workers, and those with the most disgruntled.
26. Iowa
The unemployment rate in Iowa is low and generously remunerated skilled jobs are easy to come by, but unskilled jobs are particularly poorly paid in the state, which means unskilled workers tend to be less happy than their counterparts in other states.
27. Maryland
The US government is the biggest employer in Maryland, which is located very close to Washington DC, while the main non-state employer is the Johns Hopkins institutions, which has a good to excellent job satisfaction rate.
28. Delaware
Bucking the nationwide trend, unemployment actually increased in Delaware during 2017. The reduced number of jobs in the state is putting pressure on its employee base, adversely affecting feelings of job satisfaction.
29. Vermont
The unemployment rate in the Green Mountain State is extremely low and wage growth is much higher than the national average, but workers in Vermont aren't hugely satisfied with their lot, landing in this year's 29th spot in the Sokanu survey.
30. South Carolina
South Carolina has a much higher percentage of entry-level jobs than other states, which may be behind its lower than average job satisfaction rate. A 2016 study from the Corporation for Enterprise Development found that 34% of jobs in the state are minimum or low wage.
31. Tennessee
Despite a thriving job market and refreshingly low cost of living, Tennessee's workforce aren't exactly jumping for joy. The Volunteer State gets the 31st happiest placing in this year's Sokanu survey.
32. New York
With its multitude of openings in the creative industries and high wages, job satisfaction is high in New York City, but it's a different story upstate, with employees lacking the boundless opportunities the Big Apple provides.
33. North Carolina
North Carolina nabs the 33rd spot this year. The state is regarded as one of the best locations in the US to find a job – the ratio of applicants to available jobs is especially favourable in Raleigh, but workers in the state are more inclined to be dissatisfied than satisfied work-wise.
34. Colorado
Rising living costs and a paucity of available housing could be behind the lower than average job satisfaction scores in Colorado. Workers in Denver are particularly affected by the housing shortage, which impacts on their workplace wellbeing.
35. Wisconsin
Several sectors in Wisconsin report low job satisfaction rates, including teaching staff dealing with lower staffing numbers and budget cuts, while family doctors' stress levels in the state tend to be higher than the national average.
36. Missouri
As unemployment levels fall and vacancies rise, jobs are fairly easy to come by in the larger urban areas in Missouri such as St. Louis and Kansas City, but workers in the state are not the happiest in America by a long shot.
37. Kentucky
Time and time again, Kentucky has been voted one of the worst states for jobseekers as well as employee satisfaction, scoring poorly on everything from average starting salary to the share of workers living below the breadline.
38. Michigan
Things are looking up in Michigan. Unemployment is at the lowest rate for 18 years and the state is leading the country in economic growth, but workers in the former powerhouse of the American auto industry are still less than satisfied, according to this survey.
39. New Jersey
New Jersey is one of only six states that recorded a rise in unemployment during 2018 and, with competition rising and wages stagnating, the workforce is among the least contented in the country.
40. Illinois
Overall unemployment is falling in Illinois, but the job market in the state isn't in the best shape. Wages are relatively low and, last year, governor Bruce Rauner vetoed a hike in the minimum wage, much to the consternation of Illinois' badly-paid workforce.
41. Connecticut
Joining Delaware and New Jersey, Connecticut is one of the six states that recorded a rise in unemployment during 2017. Layoffs continue in the state, and the threat of job losses is no doubt having an adverse effect on workers' wellbeing.
42. North Dakota
Despite boasting the lowest unemployment rate in the US at just 2.3%, North Dakota isn't home to the happiest employees. The jobs boom is mostly confined to the oil and shale gas industry – roles in other sectors tend to be fewer and further between, and poorly paid.
43. Alabama
Unemployment in Alabama has fallen sharply of late, but don't let the positive job figures fool you. The Heart of Dixie has a higher percentage of low salary jobs than other any other state, including South Carolina, which doesn't make for an especially happy workforce.
44. Washington
The overall employment market is satisfactory in Washington, but several factors are eating away at job satisfaction perceptions in the state, including a series of major layoffs at Boeing, Washington's largest employer.
45. Ohio
Employees in the Buckeye State are far from contented in general. A Twitter-based survey from 2016 found that Ohio is the state with the highest number of employees who hate their jobs, averaging 14 work-loathing tweets per 100,000 residents.
46. New Hampshire
The job market in New Hampshire is healthy and unemployment is exceptionally low in the state, but the majority of positions are at the lower-paid end of the spectrum, which may explain the lack of job satisfaction.
47. Oregon
Job growth has slowed in Oregon and workers are feeling more pushed as living costs escalate. Adding to employees' resentment, the Beaver State has one of the highest income tax rates in America.
48. Rhode Island
The smallest state in the US was slow to bounce back from the recession, and the job market is still performing under par, which doesn't make for the most contented of workforces.
49. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania falls down one spot this year and now has the third most unhappy workers in the country. The state's long winters could be partly to blame – a recent survey by Accountemps found that people in Pittsburgh suffer disproportionately from the 'winter workplace blues'.
50. Massachusetts
A high cost of living, slow wage growth and rising unemployment that bucks the national trend have negatively impacted on employee wellbeing in Massachusetts, and the state now has the some of the unhappiest workers in America.
51 Unhappiest. District of Columbia
DC has America's most unhappy employees, and then some. The district has the second highest unemployment rate in the country, one of the most fiercely competitive job markets, and is the most stressed-out location in America according to a 2016 study by Movoto Real Estate.
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