More U.S. states have more unemployed people than job openings, suggesting a tougher job market

according to data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday, the number of unemployed people in 14 states in the US in February exceeded the number of job vacancies, reaching the highest level since April 2021. In February, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island joined this list, indicating an increasingly tough job market. From November 2022 to April 2023, as the US economy strengthens its rebound after the pandemic, the ratio of unemployed people to job vacancies in all 50 states in the US was below 1. This means that theoretically, there are enough job opportunities for all unemployed individuals. In May 2023, California and New Jersey became the first two states where this ratio exceeded 1. In February of this year (the most recent month with available data), California had the highest ratio, with approximately 150 unemployed individuals for every 100 job vacancies, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. South Dakota had the lowest ratio, with approximately 40 unemployed individuals for every 100 job vacancies.