2016 Best (And Worst) States To Find Smart Workers

Where The Talented Workers Are – And Aren't

Solution provider startups often begin as a one-man (or woman) show. But if the company grows, eventually the founder is going to have to hire some help. Finding the best employees, from top managers and effective sales people to engineers with deep technical expertise, is often the biggest challenge faced by growing solution providers.

As part of the 2016 Best States for Millennials to Start a Solution Provider Business project, we've ranked the states according to the overall experience and education levels of their available workforce. The analysis includes an overall education rank (according to the CNBC America's Top States for Business 2016), the percent of a state's population 25 and older with a Bachelor's degree or an advanced degree (American Community Survey), postings for tech occupations and job openings, and the percent of a state's private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (both from the 2016 CompTIA Cyberstates Report).

The following are the 10 states with the highest rankings for educated and experienced workers, listed from No. 10 to No. 1. The states with the lowest rankings are then listed from No. 41 to No. 50. Keep in mind that the states with the best talent may also be among the most expensive places to do business.

Best States No. 10: Washington

Thirty-three percent of Washington state's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 11) and 12 percent have an advanced degree (No. 13).

Washington is ranked No. 5 for the percent of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (8.2 percent). And the state is ranked No. 16 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Evergreen State is ranked No. 24 overall for its education system.

Washington is ranked No. 30, slightly on the expensive side, for its labor costs.

Best States No. 9: Connecticut

Thirty-eight percent of Connecticut's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 4) and 17 percent have an advanced degree (No. 3).

Connecticut is ranked No.22 for the percent of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (5.1 percent). And the state is ranked No. 20 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Constitution State is ranked No. 18 overall for its education system.

Connecticut is ranked No. 47, among the most expensive, for its labor costs.

Best States No. 8: Colorado

Thirty-eight percent of Colorado's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 2) and 14 percent have an advanced degree (No. 6).

Colorado is ranked No. 3 for the percent of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (9.0 percent). And the state is ranked No. 15 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Constitution State is ranked No. 25 overall for its education system.

Colorado is ranked No. 37, moderately expensive, for its labor costs.

Best States No. 7: Minnesota

Thirty-four percent of Minnesota's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 10) and 12 percent have an advanced degree (No. 15).

Minnesota is ranked No. 14 for the percent of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (5.9 percent). And the state is ranked No. 18 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The North Star State is ranked No. 2 overall for its education system.

Minnesota is ranked No. 35, moderately expensive, for its labor costs.

Best States No. 6: Maryland

Thirty-eight percent of Maryland's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 3) and 18 percent have an advanced degree (No. 2).

Maryland is ranked No. 4 for the percent of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (8.6 percent). And the state is ranked No. 14 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Old Line State is ranked No. 16 overall for its education system.

Maryland is ranked No. 48, among the most expensive, for its labor costs.

Best States No. 5: Illinois

Thirty-nine percent of Illinois' population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 12) and 13 percent have an advanced degree (No. 10).

Illinois is ranked No. 26 for the percent of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (4.7 percent). But the state is ranked No. 5 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Prairie State is ranked No. 4 overall for its education system.

Illinois is ranked No. 24 for its labor costs.

Best States No. 4: New York

Thirty-five percent of New York's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 9) and 15 percent have an advanced degree (No. 5).

New York is ranked No. 25 for the percent of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (4.8 percent). But the state is ranked No. 2 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Empire State is ranked No. 8 overall for its education system.

New York is ranked No. 44 for its high labor costs.

Best States No. 3: New Jersey

Thirty-seven percent of New Jersey's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 5) and 14 percent have an advanced degree (No. 6).

New Jersey is ranked No. 10 for the percent of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (6.3 percent). The state is ranked No. 8 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Garden State is ranked No. 6 overall for its education system.

New Jersey is ranked No. 42 for its relatively high labor costs.

Best States No. 2: Virginia

Thirty-seven percent of Virginia's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 6) and 16 percent have an advanced degree (No. 4).

Virginia is ranked No. 2 for the high percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (9.5 percent). The state is ranked No. 4 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Old Dominion State is ranked No. 5 overall for its education system.

Virginia is ranked No. 36 for its relatively high labor costs.

Best States No. 1: Massachusetts

Forty-one percent of Massachusetts' population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 1) and 18 percent have an advanced degree (No. 1).

Massachusetts is ranked No. 1 for the high percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (9.8 percent). The state is ranked No. 10 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Bay State is ranked No. 1 overall for its education system.

Massachusetts is ranked No. 46 for its high labor costs.

Worst States No. 41: South Carolina

Twenty-six percent of South Carolina's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 39) and 10 percent have an advanced degree (No. 31).

South Carolina is ranked No. 34 for the percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (3.7 percent). The state is ranked No. 27 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Palmetto State is ranked No. 42 overall for its education system.

South Carolina is ranked No. 19 for its labor costs.

Worst States No. 42: Alaska

Twenty-eight percent of Alaska's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 27) and 10 percent have an advanced degree (No. 31).

Alaska is ranked No. 30 for the percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (4.2 percent). The state is ranked No. 47 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Last Frontier State is ranked No. 37 overall for its education system.

Alaska is ranked No. 41 for its labor costs.

Worst States No. 43: Alabama

Twenty-four percent of Alabama's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 44) and 9 percent have an advanced degree (No. 40).

Alabama is ranked No. 21 for the percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (5.2 percent). The state is ranked No. 28 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Yellowhammer State is ranked No. 46 overall for its education system.

Alabama is ranked No. 17 for its labor costs.

Worst States No. 44: Arkansas

Twenty-one percent of Arkansas' population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 48) and 8 percent have an advanced degree (No. 49).

Arkansas is ranked No. 48 for the percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (2.7 percent). The state is ranked No. 30 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Natural State is ranked No. 36 overall for its education system.

Arkansas is ranked No. 9 for its low labor costs.

Worst States No. 45: Louisiana

Twenty-three percent of Louisiana's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 46) and 8 percent have an advanced degree (No. 46).

Louisiana is ranked No. 42 for the percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (3.0 percent). The state is ranked No. 32 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Pelican State is ranked No. 39 overall for its education system.

Louisiana is ranked No. 7 for its low labor costs.

Worst States No. 46: Idaho

Twenty-five percent of Idaho's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 41) and 8 percent have an advanced degree (No. 42).

Idaho is ranked No. 14 for the percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (5.9 percent). The state is ranked No. 40 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Gem State is ranked No. 49 overall for its education system.

Idaho is ranked No. 6 for its low labor costs.

Worst States No. 47: Oklahoma

Twenty-four percent of Oklahoma's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 43) and 8 percent have an advanced degree (No. 43).

Oklahoma is ranked No. 42 for the percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (3.0 percent). The state is ranked No. 35 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Sooner State is ranked No. 44 overall for its education system.

Oklahoma is ranked No. 13 for its moderately low labor costs.

Worst States No. 48: West Virginia

Nineteen percent of West Virginia's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (the lowest among all states at No. 50) and 7 percent have an advanced degree (also No. 50).

West Virginia is ranked No. 46 for the percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (2.8 percent). The state is ranked No. 45 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Mountain State is ranked No. 32 overall for its education system.

West Virginia is ranked No. 11 for its moderately low labor costs.

Worst States No. 49: Nevada

Twenty-three percent of Nevada's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 45) and 8 percent have an advanced degree (also No. 45).

Nevada is ranked No. 46 for the percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (2.8 percent). The state is ranked No. 34 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Silver State is ranked No. 50, last among all the states, for its education system.

Nevada is ranked No. 22 for its labor costs.

Worst States No. 50: Mississippi

Twenty-one percent of Mississippi's population, 25 or older, has a bachelor's degree (No. 49) and 8 percent have an advanced degree (No. 44).

Mississippi is ranked No. 49 for the percentage of the private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (2.5 percent). The state is ranked No. 43 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The Magnolia State is ranked No. 48 for its education system.

Mississippi is ranked No. 3 for its low labor costs.