Job searching is stressful and the current employment market isn’t the strongest. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that the average job search lasts 23.3 weeks. That’s a long haul. The World Economic Forum does see the market becoming more dynamic soon with new and emerging job opportunities. Qualtrics added to this top with a new map showing where we’ll find the most active job seekers in the U.S. They drew on data from the BLS’s American Time Use Survey.

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The team’s main visual for their data is a color-coded map of the 50 states, ranked by the percentage of residents who reported engaging in job-seeking activities. These could include looking for work, wanting a job, submitting applications, intending to seek work soon, looking at job ads, or attending job training. Five states had to be excluded from the ranking because of insufficient survey data. This included Hawaii, Vermont, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

These states were found to have the most people wanting new jobs:

1. Alaska — 23.81% (standout leader)
2. Idaho — 17.24%
3. California — 13.33%
4. Oklahoma — 12.5%
5. Nevada & New Hampshire — tied at 11.9%
6. Iowa — 11.28%
7. Washington — 9.95%
8. Oregon — 9.04%
9. Virginia — 8.84%

This list shows Western and Pacific states dominating the top. Alaska as a standout leader might come as a surprise because it’s not due to a job shortage. There is actually a workforce shortage in Alaska. In 2024, Alaska created 5,400 new jobs with more expected in 2025. $20 billion in infrastructure development is expected to generate 20,000 more jobs by 2030. So, Alaska’s high job-seeking activity reflects a growing, dynamic economy with ample room for pivots and career changes.

States with the lowest rankings were Kentucky (1.32%), Arkansas (1.83%), and Missouri (3.26%). These states may have lower unemployment rates, different market conditions, or demographic factors that influenced their ranking. The data make it clear that job-seeking activity varies widely by state, tied to local economic conditions, perhaps more so than national trends. Job seekers should take advantage of training programs, the federal jobs board, and role-specific job search sites. It also shows that securing talent is only one step toward building a loyal, long-term workforce. Only 42% of workers feel engaged, which is a major reason they may seek new jobs.

Beyond a snapshot of where Americans are currently looking for work, these data points to a bigger reality: labor-market “energy” is uneven, and high job-seeking activity can signal opportunity as much as instability. In states like Alaska, movement may reflect an expanding, restructuring economy in which workers feel empowered (or required) to pivot as new roles and industries emerge. For job seekers, the practical takeaway is to align search strategy with local conditions. Prioritize skills-building and credentials that travel across employers, use targeted boards and training pipelines, and treat mobility as a long-term advantage rather than a short-term disruption. Organizations and individuals that read these regional signals early and invest accordingly will be best positioned to thrive as the economy continues to evolve.

Artificial intelligence has infiltrated our everyday lives thanks to text generative applications. From huge corporations to individual users chatting on their smartphones, AI companies have developed ways to use AI in countless aspects of life. It has the potential to make huge, important leaps in technological progress, but it also comes with a host of concerns and dangers. The team at Qualtrics shows us the many different opinions on AI by mapping out opinions across the world. Their map shows us the percentage of people in each country who think AI has more benefits than drawbacks and vice versa.

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AI is gaining popularity around the world. People are using it at work to automate simple, repetitive tasks, speeding up their processes. It performs well as a data analyst and excels at the most mundane tasks, so many workers feel freed up to use their time and energy on more rewarding, nuanced work that requires creativity. AI can even identify the early stages of disease, allowing overloaded doctors to use it to assist them and process more patients. Many people in the healthcare field hope it will help with new discoveries and medical progress. AI has long been used in smart homes responding to requests to adjust the thermostat, start up a sound system, and monitor security.

Alongside the exciting possibilities AI offers, there are many concerns. AI has been used to create deep fakes, spread misinformation, and displace workers. People fear it could drastically disrupt the economy, and when some countries are considering using it as warfare, it’s natural for major fears to follow. Another major AI concern is resource constraints. Environmentalists have pointed to the heat AI data centers produce and the absolutely massive amount of water they consume to keep them cool.

How do these viewpoints vary around the world? According to the team’s data, China holds the most trust in AI, with 83% believing it brings more benefits than drawbacks. They’re closely followed by Indonesia at 80% and Thailand at 77%. Western European countries seem to be the most hesitant to embrace AI. 47% of German respondents believe AI will do more harm than good, followed by 41% in France and 36% in the Netherlands. This is a less-than-50 % approval rating. The United States has a 39% AI approval rating, but trust in AI there has risen by 4% in the past few years. This is a bit of a surprise, as American companies are leading AI development. This could be due to reports of data centers in the US disrupting neighborhood health and peace.

This map is a fascinating way to examine the rapidly changing world of AI through the lens of public opinion. Confidence in AI seems to be growing, but many unknowns remain regarding its effects on society and health. While some fear it may replace them at their job, others are hopeful that it will make work and life better.

The unemployment rate is a percentage that reflects the number of people in the labor force who are without a job. This is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed people by the labor force and multiplying by 100. Because unemployment can have a drastic impact on a nation’s economy, the team at Qualtrics examined global patterns and mapped unemployment rates. To be considered unemployed for this study means a person doesn’t have a job but is available for work. That means people who are retired, disabled, or laid off don’t count in the figures.

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According to the team’s data, the country with the highest employment rate is Eswatini at 37.64%. This is a landlocked nation in Southern Africa, formerly known as Swaziland. This is one of the world’s last absolute monarchies, and it suffers economically like many of its neighbors, including South Africa, Botswana, and the Republic of the Congo. In particular, the youth of Eswatini are unemployed. The unemployment crisis is attributed to skill gaps in eligible workers.

It’s good to be at the low end of the unemployment spectrum. The nation Qatar has the lowest unemployment rate in the world at .13%. This comes as no surprise from a nation rich in petroleum and natural gas. Qatar has valuable real estate and has long been a haven for the wealthy, which lends itself to a booming economy with plenty of employment opportunities. Other nations that aren’t struggling with unemployment are Cambodia, Niger, and Thailand, due to high manufacturing production and/or a bustling tourism industry.

These countries have the lowest unemployment rates:

• Qatar
• Cambodia
• Niger
• Thailand
• Burundi
• Chad
• Bahrain
• Cuba
• Laos
• Benin

We see a very wide gap between the countries with the highest and lowest unemployment rates. Many factors can affect unemployment, but one of the biggest is changes in the size of the labor force. A struggling economy doesn’t necessarily indicate a high unemployment rate. If it’s difficult enough to find a job, people will give up, and they’ll no longer be counted in the unemployment numbers. That said, the unemployment rate does tend to increase in hard times. Global unemployment peaked in 2009 during the financial crisis.

In summary, unemployment rates reveal much about the economic health and social dynamics of countries worldwide. While nations like Eswatini face challenges due to skill gaps and limited job opportunities, others, such as Qatar, benefit from abundant resources and thriving industries. The disparity highlights how factors such as labor force size, economic stability, and industry growth affect employment levels. Understanding these global patterns is essential for policymakers and organizations aiming to address unemployment and foster sustainable growth. By analyzing the causes and consequences, we can better support individuals and communities striving for economic security and opportunity.