Knowledge Jobs

In the old economy, states prospered by having workers who were skilled with their hands and who could reliably work in repetitive and often physically demanding jobs. In the New Economy, states will prosper if their workers are good with their minds, because knowledge and information-based jobs are driving the New Economy. Many of these jobs are in offices. They tend to be managerial, professional, and technical positions held by individuals with at least two years of college. Moreover, skill requirements are going up in most industries and occupations, not just the high-tech sector. The “knowledge jobs” indicators in this section measure three things: 1) the percentage of the workforce working in offices; 2) the share of the workforce employed in managerial, professional, and technical positions; and 3) the education level
of the workforce.

STATES BY RANK
Rank	State	Score
1	Massachusetts	11.48
2	Connecticut	9.94
3	Colorado	9.08
4	Delaware	8.74
5	Virginia	8.15
6	New York	8.15
7	Minnesota	8.11
8	Maryland	8.08
9	Illinois	8.07
10	California	7.95
11	Washington	7.95
12	New Jersey	7.53
13	New Hampshire	7.43
14	Utah	7.23
15	Arizona	7.02
16	Nebraska	6.81
17	Alaska	6.78
18	Florida	6.75
19	Rhode Island	6.73
20	Kansas	6.65
21	Hawaii	6.57
22	Oregon	6.21
23	New Mexico	6.13
24	Pennsylvania	5.87
25	Georgia	5.83
26	Missouri	5.57
27	Ohio	5.57
28	Vermont	5.49
29	Oklahoma	5.34
30	Wisconsin	5.32
31	North Carolina	5.23
32	Texas	5.17
33	Louisiana	5.01
34	Michigan	4.96
35	Nevada	4.85
36	Tennessee	4.75
37	Maine	4.73
38	Iowa	4.73
39	South Carolina	4.32
40	Wyoming	4.26
41	Idaho	4.22
42	Montana	4.19
43	Indiana	4.07
44	Alabama	3.97
45	North Dakota	3.85
46	South Dakota	3.74
47	Kentucky	3.22
48	Mississippi	2.93
49	Arkansas	2.70
50	West Virginia	2.56
	U.S. Average	6

ALPHABETICALLY
State	Rank	Score
Alabama	44	3.97
Alaska	17	6.78
Arizona	15	7.02
Arkansas	49	2.70
California	10	7.95
Colorado	3	9.08
Connecticut	2	9.94
Delaware	4	8.74
Florida	18	6.75
Georgia	25	5.83
Hawaii	21	6.57
Idaho	41	4.22
Illinois	9	8.07
Indiana	43	4.07
Iowa	38	4.73
Kansas	20	6.65
Kentucky	47	3.22
Louisiana	33	5.01
Maine	37	4.73
Maryland	8	8.08
Massachusetts	1	11.48
Michigan	34	4.96
Minnesota	7	8.11
Mississippi	48	2.93
Missouri	26	5.57
Montana	42	4.19
Nebraska	16	6.81
Nevada	35	4.85
New Hampshire	13	7.43
New Jersey	12	7.53
New Mexico	23	6.13
New York	6	8.15
North Carolina	31	5.23
North Dakota	45	3.85
Ohio	27	5.57
Oklahoma	29	5.34
Oregon	22	6.21
Pennsylvania	24	5.87
Rhode Island	19	6.73
South Carolina	39	4.32
South Dakota	46	3.74
Tennessee	36	4.75
Texas	32	5.17
Utah	14	7.23
Vermont	28	5.49
Virginia	5	8.15
Washington	11	7.95
West Virginia	50	2.56
Wisconsin	30	5.32
Wyoming	40	4.26

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The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI)
Technology, Innovation, and New Economy Project
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