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The editors at Best Therapy Degrees decided to research the topic of
The Top 10 States with the Best Employment Rates
The phrase 'economic crisis' has become familiar to Americans over the last decade. Young people need to plan carefully to ensure a career. Some states are doing better than others when it comes to employment rates. Following are the top ten states with the lowest unemployment rates, along with degrees that could be helpful in landing a job there.
- Keep in mind:
- The U.S. average unemployment rate: 9%
- The U.S. percentage average of U.S. adults with college degrees: 27.5%
#10 Iowa - A Diverse Economy, Strong in Agriculture
- Unemployment rate is 6.8%
- Industries:
- Manufacturing
- Biotech
- Finance
- Insurance
- Government services
S&P granted Iowa a Triple A rating
Education: 24.3% of adults have at least a Bachelor's degree
Most useful fields of study:
- Agriculture Production Tech, Agriculture, Animal Science, Bio and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics
- Biotechnology, Biomedical, Biology, Biomed Informatics
- Master's degrees are often required for advancement
- Financial Management, Finance, Accounting, Actuarial Science, Math
#9 Minnesota - Manufacturing, Raw Material, and Higher Education
- Unemployment rate: 6.8%
- Industries:
- Manufacturing
- Government services
- Raw materials
33 of America's top 1,000 publicly-traded firms have HQs in Minnesota
Education: 31% of adults have at least a Bachelor's degree
Most useful fields of study:
- Business, Finance, Management
- Manufacturing Technology
- Information Technology
#8 Wyoming - Commodities and Tourism
- Unemployment rate: 6.7%
- Major Industries and Advantages:
- Mining
- Agriculture
- Tourism ($2 billion annual revenue)
- No individual or corporate tax
Education: 23% of adults have at least a Bachelor's degree
Most useful fields of study:
- Agriculture Production Technology, Agriculture, Animal Science, Bio and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics
- Geophysics, Geomatics Engineering, and Geosciences in general
- Forestry, Resource Conservation, Recreation Management, Wildlife Restoration, Parks Administration, Equestrian Studies, Conservation Management Protection, Wildlife and Fish Management, and Ecological Studies
- Hospitality
#7 Kansas - Agriculture, Energy, and Aerospace
- Unemployment rate: 6.5%
- Major industries:
- Agriculture
- Natural gas
- Aerospace technology
Education: 28.8% of adults have at least Bachelor's degree
Most useful fields of study:
- Geophysics, Geomatics Engineering, Petroleum Engineering and other Geosciences in general
- Agriculture Production Technology
- Agriculture, Animal Science, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics
- Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, Math
- Advancement likely requires graduate studies
#6 Hawaii - Tourism and Affluence
- Unemployment rate: 6.3%
- Major industries:
- Tourism
Education: 29.2% of adults have at least Bachelor's degree
Fields of study:
- Hospitality Management, Recreation Management, Forestry
#5 Vermont - Agriculture and an Educated Population
- Unemployment rate: 6%
- Major industries:
- Farming
- Manufacturing
- Insurance
- Tourism
- Quarrying
- Housing
Education: 33.6% of adults have at least a Bachelor's degree
Most useful fields of study:
- Agriculture Production Technology, Agriculture, Animal Science, Bio and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics
- Actuarial Science, Finance, Accounting, Management
#4 New Hampshire - Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing, and an Educated Population
- Unemployment rate: 5.8%
- Major Industries and Advantages:
- Agriculture (Dairy, cattle, and apples)
- Machinery, electric equipment, rubber, and plastic
- Tourism for skiing in the winter
- No income or sales tax
Most useful fields of study:
- Agriculture Production Technology, Agriculture, Animal Science, Bio and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics
- Hospitality and Recreation Management
- Engineering, Business
- Floor jobs don't require degrees
#3 Nebraska - Agriculture, Transportation, and Diversity
- Unemployment rate: 4.7%
- Major industries:
- Agriculture
- Freight and transportation
- Telecommunications
- Manufacturing
- Information technology
- Transportation
Education: 27.5% of adults have at least a Bachelor's degree
Most useful fields of study:
- Agriculture, Animal Science, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics
- Telecommunications Technology, Telecommunications Management, Information Technology, Information Security
- Bachelor's in Business for Manufacturing and Education
- No degree required for entry level but Bachelor's required for management and side positions.
#2 South Dakota - Government, Services, and Agriculture
- Unemployment rate: 4.4%
- Major industries and Employers:
- Service (retail, health, and financial)
- Government enterprise
- Ellsworth Air Force Base
- Agriculture
Education: 25% of adults have at least a Bachelor's degree
Most useful areas of study:
- Agriculture Production Technology, Agriculture, Animal Science, Bio and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics
- Accounting, Economics, Business Mathematics, Law, Actuarial Sciences
- Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Nursing, Radiologic Technology
#1 North Dakota - Agriculture and Commodities
- Unemployment rate: 3.6%
- Major industries:
- Agriculture
- Petroleum
- Food processing
- Tourism
Education: 25.7% of adults have at least a Bachelor's degree
Most useful fields of study:
- Geophysics, Geomatics Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Geosciences
- Master's degree is relatively optional. Experience goes a long way here.
- Agriculture Production Technology, Agriculture, Animal Science, Bio and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics
- Food processing jobs are entry level factory positions not requiring degrees
- Business degrees help for management positions
- Forestry, Resource Conservation, Recreation Management, Wildlife Restoration, Parks Administration, Equestrian Studies, Conservation Management and Protection, Wildlife and Fish Management, and Ecological Studies
- North Dakota has many national parks and wildlife reserves
- Hospitality and Business are also useful in states with notable tourism.
One unifying feature of nearly all of the states is a market for agriculture. Feeding America is a feat of titanic proportions and this is reflected in these states. If you've ever dreamt of living the wide open countryside, your dream may be more beneficial than you thought.
