Good Website to Follow the Job Market (Diffrences Between States)

Here is a good website which overviews the job market in the United States.

The website, odinjobs.com, presents a map of the United States on the left side of the homepage, examining the health of the job market in each state. States shaded in red have the highest demand for jobs while states in green have the lowest demand. Surprisingly, despite an 12.6% unemployment rate, California has an extremely high demand for jobs. Overall, California, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York have the most demand for jobs in the U.S. Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, West Virginia and Mississippi are lagging in relative demand. The map also presents data for median salaries. Once again, California and New York lead the nation, with the highest median salaries. The dynamics of the job market within individual states is an topic for further exploration. Some states are suffering from incredibly high unemployment rates while others are weathering the recession, not suffering from the same losses. This website is helpful in examining the differences in the job market between states.

Here is an article from NY Times which looks at statistics regarding the job market in individual states from March. It notes that 33 states showed job growth in March, with strongest growth coming from Maryland. States like California, Michigan and Georgia continued to hemorrhage jobs - evidence that the recession may be deepening in those states. Interestingly, North Dakota has the lowest unemployment at 4%. Once again, this article shows how the dynamics of job markets in individual states vary greatly.

Here is a video from New Mexico, highlighting the job market in New Mexico:



We will be sure to keep an eye on states individual unemployment rates as they will have political consequences in the 2010 and 2012 elections. Incumbents in states which continue to loose jobs may be punished by voters while the economy may be an non issue in states which continue to add jobs.