Gallup: Calif./Conn. Tie 3rd worst in U.S. for job creation

February 20th, 2010
By Mary Ann Milbourn

California tied with Connecticut for being third worst in job creation last year, according to a recent Gallup survey analysis.

All the states and Washington, D.C. saw their job markets continually worsen last year with hard-hit Michigan and Nevada having the worst problems.

At the other end of the spectrum, only North Dakotans were doing well.

Here's Gallup's best and worst states (click on link below to see chart):

http://economy.freedomblogging.com/file ... arkets.jpg

The ranking was based on an analysis of a survey of 100,000 Gallup Daily tracking interviews conducted throughout 2009 with employed adults in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

Gallup asked those who had jobs whether their companies were hiring and expanding their workforce, not changing the size of their workforces, or laying off workers and cutting their staff.

Gallup's Job Creation Index reports the net difference between the percentage reporting an expansion and the percentages reporting a sizable reduction in their workforces.

See Gallup's interactive map showing the performance of all the states HERE.

Energy-producing states like North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas fared best, said Gallup. Those dominated by the housing industry — Nevada, California and Arizona — or finance — Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Rhode Island— also took a large hit.

Dennis Jacobe, Gallup's chief economist, had this conclusion:

"In 2010, the factors that influence comparative job market conditions may change.

For example, improving conditions in the manufacturing sector could mean comparative improvements in job market conditions in many long-depressed areas.

Similarly, continuing improvements in the financial and housing sectors could help the job market in many currently depressed states.

"Still, improvements in some states are not enough to get the U.S. economy on a sustainable growth path for 2010-2011.

Instead, widespread improvements in job market conditions and companies hiring legal U.S. citizens will need to happen in every state."

http://economy.freedomblogging.com/2010 ... ion/27349/