When it’s time to uproot and move to a new place, few things are more important than your job (unless you’re retiring).
As the U.S. economy continues to recover from a series of financial crises, unemployment rates across the country have begun to fall. The increased job opportunities in specific areas have led some individuals and families who want to further their careers to consider relocating. This post first appeared on United Van Lines.
According to United Van Lines’ 40th Annual National Movers Study, which tracks customers’ state-to-state migration patterns over the past year, there were several states that topped the charts when it came to people moving for work in 2016.
1) District of Columbia
As the seat of U.S. government, the District of Columbia offers plenty of job opportunities both in and out of the federal system. In 2016, D.C. welcomed more than 10,000 new residents. More than nine out of 10 of those surveyed reported moving to D.C. for a job. Good schools and safer neighborhoods were also cited as factors for the continuing growth of the D.C. metropolitan area, but jobs were the primary motivator for most of the respondents to the study.
2) Nebraska
An impressive 74 percent of new Nebraska residents surveyed moved because of career opportunities or because they acquired a new job in the state. According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, the state boasts just a 3.4 percent unemployment rate. In comparison, a recent national unemployment rate was at 4.6 percent. According to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, many of the newly created jobs are outside the farm sector, further expanding the employment options available to residents of this state.
3) Rhode Island
Rhode Island made Zippia’s list of top 10 states for work-life balance, a definite plus for those relocating to this area to take advantage of local job opportunities. Among those surveyed for the United Van Lines’ study, more than two-thirds reported they moved to this geographically small but economically mighty state for work purposes.
4) Ohio
The Buckeye State had employment-driven moves as well – 67.8 percent of those surveyed were motivated to move because of a job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed unemployment at under five percent in December 2016, a strong showing for this Midwestern state. Finance and manufacturing are among the top industries in Ohio and provide employment for more than a third of all workers in the state.
5) Mississippi
Mississippi has a strong economic pull as well, with 67.7 percent of new residents citing jobs as a reason for moving. Statistics available from the BLS indicate that employment opportunities have been steadily increasing, with a nearly two percent increase in Mississippi’s largest counties between June 2015 and June 2016. Agriculture continues to be the primary source of employment and revenue for the state.
6) California
In 2016, 67.6 percent of those moving into the state of California indicated they did so in pursuit of employment opportunities. In contrast, only 47.4 percent of those leaving the state were in search of a job elsewhere. California has the largest economy of any state in the U.S., and education and health services make up 18 percent of the jobs available there, with real estate sales and rentals and transportation companies also comprising a large amount of employment opportunities in the Golden State.
7) West Virginia
The state of West Virginia has long been associated with coal mining and the energy industry. And today, many of the employment opportunities in the state still spring from those original roots. The United Van Lines survey indicates that 67.6 percent of those moving to West Virginia were following job opportunities. However, 68.8 percent of those leaving the state were also in search of better jobs elsewhere.
8) Texas
The resurgence of the Texas oil industry in recent years has made a major impact on the job opportunities available to workers across the country. With nearly two-thirds of all moves into the Lone Star State motivated by employment opportunities, Texas is accruing the workforce needed to support the state’s vibrant agricultural sector, the oil industry and the high-tech enclaves in Austin and Dallas.
9) Iowa
Fertile farmland in Iowa has made agricultural pursuits the most important employment opportunities in the state for generations. In recent decades, however, Iowa has successfully made the leap from a purely farming economy to a combination of manufacturing, finance, technologies and alternative energy industries that complement and supplement the still-vibrant agricultural sector. Approximately 65.8 percent of those moving into the state of Iowa reported doing so for job-related purposes.
10) Illinois
Manufacturing and agricultural industries are among the most prolific opportunities in the state of Illinois. Increased demand for services in the state have also resulted in employment opportunities for residents and those moving into the state. Survey results show that 64.5 percent of those who relocated to Illinois did so because of job changes or to seek new opportunities in the employment marketplace.
The friendly and courteous relocation experts at United Van Lines can help you relocate across the city or across the country. We offer dependable services designed to serve your needs and your budget. Whether you’re retiring to a sunny cottage or taking on new responsibilities in the workforce, United Van Lines can help you make the right move, every time.
