Best And Worst States: Information Technology Jobs

Where The IT Workers Are And Aren't

Recruiting IT talent is a challenge for both startups and established solution providers. That job is easier, of course, if the company is based in a state where IT workers make up a bigger share of the total workforce.

The following are the five best states -- and the five worst states -- for information technology jobs, defined as employment in IT occupations in non-IT industries as a percentage of private sector employment. The U.S. average is 2.0 percent. The source was a report from the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation: "The 2012 State New Economy Index."

The ranking is part of a CRN analysis of the best and worst states in which to start a solution provider business.

The states with the highest concentration of IT workers are listed from No. 5 to No. 1. The states with the lowest concentration of people with degrees are listed from No. 46 to No. 50 -- the state with the lowest percentage of IT workers.

Best States No. 3 (Tie): Massachusetts

IT workers account for 2.8 percent of the workforce in the "Bay State," which ties it with Washington and Delaware.

Best States No. 3 (Tie): Washington

IT workers account for 2.8 percent of the workforce in the "Evergreen State," which ties it with Massachusetts and Delaware.

Best States No. 3 (Tie): Delaware

IT workers account for 2.8 percent of the workforce in "The First State," which ties it with Massachusetts and Washington.

Best States No. 2: Maryland

IT workers account for 2.9 percent of the workforce in the "Old Line State."

Best States No. 1: Virginia

IT workers account for 3.2 percent of the workforce in "The Old Dominion."

Worst States No. 46 (Tie): West Virginia

IT workers account for 1.1 percent of the workforce in the "Mountain State."

Worst States No. 46 (Tie): Nevada

IT workers account for 1.1 percent of the workforce in the "Silver State."

Worst States No. 48 (Tie): Louisiana

IT workers account for 0.8 percent of the workforce in the "Pelican State."

Worst States No. 48 (Tie): Wyoming

IT workers account for 0.8 percent of the workforce in the "Equality State."

Worst States: No. 50 Mississippi

With IT workers accounting for 0.6 percent of the workforce, the "Magnolia State" has the lowest concentration of IT workers among all 50 states.