Indiana Ranks Among the Worst States for Jobs in 2025

Job Hunting Itself Feels Like a Full-Time Job

Job hunting can feel like a full-time job, right? Between scrolling through endless listings, updating your résumé for the hundredth time, reaching out to references, and prepping for interviews, it’s no wonder people say finding a job is a job. And with so many websites, apps, and “best job” lists out there, figuring out where to even start can feel overwhelming.

That’s why studies like WalletHub’s new Best & Worst States for Jobs in 2025 report can be super helpful – even if the results sting a little for those of us here in Indiana.

The best states for jobs make it easier for residents to find and retain jobs, and employers in these states also offer very competitive compensation and benefits. In addition, the top states are great places for people looking to raise a family, ranking among the best states for working parents. ~WalletHub analyst

Unfortunately, the Hoosier State didn’t exactly shine in this year’s rankings. Out of all 50 states, Indiana landed at #42, making it one of the 10 worst states for jobs in 2025. Yikes.

ALSO READ: These Are Southern Indiana’s 10 Largest Employers

So, how does WalletHub come up with these rankings? They look at data across two major categories: Job Market and Economic Environment. Those include over two dozen factors like job opportunities, employment growth, job security, unemployment rate, median income, state income tax, and even average commute time.

Here’s how Indiana stacked up (1=Best; 25=Average)

Overall rank for Indiana: 42^nd
36^th – Job Opportunities
34^th – Employment Growth
27^th – Monthly Average Starting Salary
36^th – Unemployment Rate
27^th – Median Annual Income (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
22^nd – Avg. Length of Work Week (in Hours)
20^th – Avg. Commute Time (in Minutes)
31^st – Job Security

So, while Indiana’s ranking isn’t ideal, maybe it’s a reminder to keep pushing for more opportunities, stronger local economies, and better support for job seekers across the state. After all, Hoosiers are nothing if not hardworking and resilient – and that’s something no ranking can measure.

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Scroll over the map below to see how the rest of the country ranked - and if you really want to do a deep dive into the data, you can see the FULL REPORT HERE.

Source: WalletHub