In today's labor market, job hunting can be a daunting task, especially when facing increased competition from other candidates vying for the same positions. According to a new study by Resume.io, the number of candidates seeking roles listed on LinkedIn has surged across all 50 states, intensifying the competition. The study also delved into global job markets and found that job seekers are facing significant challenges in certain states.
One significant finding was that Washington ranked as the most competitive job market in the U.S., with positions in the state attracting an average of 41 applicants within seven days. This surge in competition, particularly in Seattle, has contributed to Washington's top ranking. The study revealed that job openings in Seattle were receiving an average of 40.9 resumes in their first week, marking a substantial 445.4% increase from 2023 and earning it the top spot globally.
Seattle's surging job competition contributed to Washington state taking the top spot in the study, Resume.io reported. (George Rose/Getty Images)
In second place was Colorado. Job postings in that state averaged 28.11 applicants in their first week of being live on LinkedIn, according to the study.
A view of Boulder, Colo. (George Rose/Getty Images)
Massachusetts, the state that Resume.io dubbed the third-most competitive, was not far behind at 27.81.
Boston's skyline (Ron Dahlquist/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Two other Northeastern states – New York and its neighbor, New Jersey – also made the top five for job competition. In the Empire States, an average of 25.49 people applied for each job in the first week. New Jersey’s average was 25.37.
Competition growth rates for the five top states also varied quite a bit, with Washington’s jumping 419% from 2023 and Colorado’s rising 70.4%, for example.
The "coffee cup test" is a job interview evaluation used by hiring managers to see if candidates will offer to clean up after themselves. (iStock)
Meanwhile, the five states found to host the least competitive job markets included Wyoming, Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. Job postings in those states tended to field an average between 3.64 to 4.5 candidates in the first week, Resume.io’s survey found.
Separate data from Workday suggested job hunters will face the most competition from other candidates for roles within communications, media and technology, financial services, and certain other industries.
Across the U.S., the unemployment rate hovered at 4.2% in August, according to the federal government. The labor force participation rate was 62.7%.