Career Builder Job Openings Drop 9.35%Nationwide in Last 45 Days
44 States Decrease, Only 6 States Increase
California Worst State for Declines, North Dakota up 28.08%


    Best and Worst States.com, the leading site for facts and lists about States, released analysis today on job opening data using Careerbuilder job openings as a proxy for job activity.  Career Builder is the nations largest job posting site.  Nationwide job openings dropped 9.35% to 213,077 from 235,059 during the 45 day period starting on January 29, 2009 and ending on March 14, 2009.  Job openings are those that have been posted within the last 30 days.

44 States showed decreases in job openings in the last 45 days while only 6 showed increase.  The biggest job opening decline was in California.  Job openings declined to 21,723 on March 14th from 25,855 on January 29, 2009, a decline of 4,132 job openings.  California unemployment was recently announced at 10.1%, the 4th worst in the nation.  California, the nations most populous state, also has the most job openings in the country yet the number is quite low compared to the size of the population. Typically job openings are a leading indicator of future employment.  

All large employment states showed job opening declines including New York, Illinois, Texas and Florida.  Illinois showed the largest decline in percentage terms at -20.99%.  Illinois unemployment is currently at 7.9%, tied for 34th in the nation.

States that showed increases were typically small states with low unemployment.  The total number of increases was also small.  North Dakota showed the largest percentage increase in job openings at 28.08% yet it only increased by 123 job openings.  North Dakota’s unemployment was only 4.2% in January, the 2nd lowest in the nation. Alaska increased by 20.75% and had the largest state job opening increase at 167.  Alaska unemployment is at 7.9%, tied for 34th in the nation.  Other states showing increases were South Dakota with an increase of 62, Maine with 13, Utah with 29 and Iowa with 27.  Wyoming, the state with the lowest unemployment, also showed a slight increase of job openings with just 10.  It also has the fewest job openings in the nation on career builder.  

Edward M. Kopko, Editor of Best and Worst States, said, “ Job Openings have dropped quite quickly since President Obama has taken office.  The unemployment rate is unlikely to improve until job openings start to increase.  The trend clearly indicates increased unemployment.”


BestandWorstStates.com, is the leading site for facts and lists about states.  Ed Kopko, its editor, during his career has written and developed extensive research on business matters and employment.  The site develops and publishes data about a number of issues important to people.  Topics include state tax policy, social issues, jobs, lifestyle and matters that help citizens be more knowledgeable about the states they live.  www.bestandworststates.com.


Job Openings By State

		14-Mar-09	29-Jan-09	% Change
1	California	21723	25855	-15.98%	-4132
2	Texas	18340	20051	-8.53%	-1711
3	Florida	14573	15174	-3.96%	-601
4	New York	11792	13057	-9.69%	-1265
5	Illinois	10826	13702	-20.99%	-2876
6	Pennsylvania	9853	11141	-11.56%	-1288
7	New Jersey	7760	8628	-10.06%	-868
8	Ohio	7506	8276	-9.30%	-770
9	Virginia	6725	7186	-6.42%	-461
10	North Carolina	6335	6803	-6.88%	-468
11	Maryland	6146	6552	-6.20%	-406
12	Georgia	5508	5992	-8.08%	-484
13	Arizona	5124	5992	-14.49%	-868
14	Massachusetts	5112	6168	-17.12%	-1056
15	Michigan	5015	5541	-9.49%	-526
16	Washington	4606	4914	-6.27%	-308
17	Indiana	4578	4731	-3.23%	-153
18	Missouri	4270	4458	-4.22%	-188
19	Colorado	4143	4214	-1.68%	-71
20	Tennessee	4132	4413	-6.37%	-281
21	Connecticut	4008	4531	-11.54%	-523
22	Wisconsin	3710	4314	-14.00%	-604
23	Minnesota	3535	4193	-15.69%	-658
24	South Carolina	3223	3136	2.77%	87
25	Kansas	3115	3236	-3.74%	-121
26	Louisiana	2958	3494	-15.34%	-536
27	Kentucky	2749	2763	-0.51%	-14
28	Iowa	2526	2499	1.08%	27
29	Alabama	2437	2567	-5.06%	-130
30	Oklahoma	2170	2269	-4.36%	-99
31	Nevada	1735	1865	-6.97%	-130
32	Oregon	1722	1832	-6.00%	-110
33	Mississippi	1545	1548	-0.19%	-3
34	New Mexico	1363	1423	-4.22%	-60
35	Utah	1265	1236	2.35%	29
36	Arkansas	1258	1414	-11.03%	-156
37	Nebraska	1077	1230	-12.44%	-153
38	Delaware	976	1057	-7.66%	-81
39	Alaska	972	805	20.75%	167
40	Hawaii	787	865	-9.02%	-78
41	West Virginia	784	856	-8.41%	-72
42	New Hampshire	694	694	0.00%	0
43	Rhode Island	650	707	-8.06%	-57
44	South Dakota	647	585	10.60%	62
45	Idaho	642	665	-3.46%	-23
46	Vermont	612	659	-7.13%	-47
47	North Dakota	561	438	28.08%	123
48	Maine	462	449	2.90%	13
49	Montana	444	508	-12.60%	-64
50	Wyoming	383	373	2.68%	10
	Entire U.S.	213077	235059	-9.35%	-21982

Source:  Bestandworststates.com, careerbuilder.com
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