The top 10 U.S. states with the strongest workforces are revealed.

• Despite the economy cooling, there are still more job openings than available employees due to labor shortages.
• That means workforce remains a critical factor when companies decide where to locate.
• The category of workforce is highly valued in CNBC's annual state competitiveness rankings. Certain states excel at drawing and retaining workers compared to others.

Despite a slowdown in job growth in the U.S. and a decrease in job openings from their peak levels during the pandemic, the employment market has become slightly more balanced. However, experts warn that the nation still faces a severe long-term labor shortage.

According to Josh Wright, an executive vice president at Lightcast, it is challenging to identify the ideal candidate for crucial positions. He explained that many companies are delaying their hiring decisions due to the uncertainty surrounding the election results.

"Based on my observations, there's a wait-and-see approach. As a result, there will be pent-up demand," he stated.

Even now, there remain fewer available workers than there are job openings.

As companies decide where to do business, finding the best workforce is a top priority, according to John Boyd, Jr., a site selection consultant at The Boyd Company.

"Most projects today are focused on workforce development, as companies are demanding new skill sets in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and robotics."

In CNBC's annual ranking of all 50 states, Workforce is one of the most important categories, accounting for 15% of a state's total score, second only to Infrastructure among ten categories of competitiveness.

We evaluate the educational attainment of each state's workforce, the concentration of STEM workers, the career education pipeline, state workforce training programs, and workers with industry-recognized certificates. We also examine each state's right-to-work laws, the success of states in attracting skilled workers (using data from Lightcast), and the productivity of each state's labor force.

These 10 states are winning the talent wars in 2024.

10. Nevada

Nevada, with the second-highest unemployment rate in the country, offers a wealth of talent for employers. The state has a strong pipeline of career-educated workers and its workforce training programs are effective. However, there is a significant shortage of STEM workers and college-educated employees. Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo is focused on addressing the health-care workforce shortage by signing an executive order that empowers the state's Patient Protection Committee to find solutions.

The 2024 Workforce Score is 227 out of 375 points, with the top states receiving a grade of C+.

Net Migration Rank: No. 16

Adults with Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 26.5%

Career Education Credential: 16.1%

STEM Workers: 3.9%

Right to Work State? Yes

9. Virginia

Virginia boasts a highly skilled workforce, with a strong concentration of STEM professionals. While it may not have as much to brag about in terms of career-educated workers as the Old Dominion, its worker training programs are top-notch. However, Virginia does struggle with net migration, with more workers leaving the state than moving there, according to Census figures.

"In his State of the Commonwealth address in January, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin stated that "Three out of four people leaving Virginia make $100,000 or more and the taxes they pay are leaving with them.""

Since taking office, Virginia has seen a significant increase in the workforce, with 240,000 more people now employed in the state, according to a recent statement by the governor to CNBC.

The 2024 Workforce Score is 232 out of 375 points, with the top states receiving a grade of C+.

Net Migration Rank: No. 41

Adults with Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 41%

Career Education Credential: 14.7%

STEM Workers: 9.3%

Right to Work State? Yes

8. Tennessee

The Volunteer State boasts a remarkable success rate in its workforce development programs, with 84% of participants securing employment within six months of completing the program, according to U.S. Department of Labor data. This places the state in the top 5 nationally.

The issue in Tennessee is that there is a shortage of skilled workers. According to a survey by the University of Tennessee Knoxville, half of the respondents reported difficulty in finding qualified workers. One of the reasons for this is that Tennessee has a low number of educated workers and a low concentration of STEM workers compared to other states.

The 2024 Workforce Score is 236 out of 375 points, with the top states achieving a C+ rating.

Net Migration Rank: No. 10

Adults with Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 29.7%

Career Education Credential: 15%

STEM Workers: 5%

Right to Work State? Yes

7. Delaware

Delaware workers were among the most productive in the nation last year, with each worker accounting for more than $150,000 in economic output, according to CNBC's analysis of Labor Department and Commerce Department data. Despite not being the first place that comes to mind as a career destination, Delaware is doing a solid job of attracting workers, based on data from the Census Bureau and Lightcast.

The Delaware Business Roundtable states that the state is not doing enough to grow its workforce, citing worker shortages as one of the biggest issues facing the state. In a report earlier this year, the organization recommended the creation of an online job portal connecting employers with in-state and out-of-state job seekers, as well as a toolkit to recruit people to move to Delaware. However, labor shortages in Delaware are not unique and the state faces them from a position of relative strength.

The 2024 Workforce Score is 243 out of 375 points, with the top states receiving a grade of B-.

Net Migration Rank: No. 12

Adults with Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 34.5%

Career Education Credential: 13.3%

STEM Workers: 6.9%

Right to Work State? No

6. Arizona

The Grand Canyon State is known for its hot climate, but the real draw is the expansion of its semiconductor industry and business opportunities. Despite a labor shortage with 0.71 available workers for every open job, Arizona's shortages are not as severe as many other states due to the influx of people moving here.

The state is taking steps to increase its workforce, particularly in advanced manufacturing. Through its Future48 Workforce Accelerators, located at five career colleges across the state, students are being trained in the skills required to excel in industries such as robotics, biotech, and semiconductors.

The 2024 Workforce Score is 257 out of 375 points, with the top states receiving a B+ rating.

Net Migration Rank: No. 3

Adults with Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 31.8%

Career Education Credential: 21.9%

STEM Workers: 6.9%

Right to Work State? Yes

5. Washington

Washington state, home to Microsoft, Amazon, and Expedia, has the highest concentration of STEM workers in the country. In addition to being highly skilled and educated, Washington workers are also among the most productive in the nation. Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, recently signed a package of worker protection bills into law, including a paid sick leave measure and a bill to give the state more power to investigate wage discrimination. While these measures won't directly affect Washington's Workforce ranking, they aim to make the Evergreen State even more attractive to workers.

The nation's lowest rate of finding work within six months after participating in Washington's worker training programs is 64%.

The 2024 Workforce Score is 260 out of 375 points, with the top states receiving a grade of B+.

Net Migration Rank: No. 5

Adults with Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 38%

Career Education Credential: 18%

STEM Workers: 10.5%

Right to Work State: No

4. Georgia

Since its inception in 1967, the Georgia Quick Start worker training program has been the oldest program of its kind in the country. As part of the state's technical college system, Quick Start collaborates with businesses to develop specialized training programs. Employers can access this service at no cost, and it has helped Georgia cultivate a robust pool of talent. Additionally, Quick Start is assisting Georgia in mitigating the brain drain that many other states are facing.

Despite Georgia's workforce not being at the top for educational attainment and not being a hub for tech workers, it is still highly successful.

The 2024 Workforce Score is 264 out of 375 points, with the top states receiving a grade of B+.

Net Migration Rank: No. 8

Adults with Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 33.6%

Career Education Credential: 16.4%

STEM Workers: 5.9%

Right to Work State? Yes

3. North Carolina

North Carolina's workforce remains well-rounded, but the state has slipped from its No. 1 ranking in CNBC's Top States for Business in 2023 due to a shortage of great workers.

Although North Carolina has experienced strong net migration, its labor force participation rate has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Andrew Berger-Gross, Senior Economist at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, suggests that demographics may be a contributing factor, as the state's population aged 55 and over has increased from 27% in 2001 to 38% in 2023.

With an aging population, an increasing number of individuals are reaching retirement age, resulting in a decrease in overall labor force participation.

The 2024 Workforce Score is 269 out of 375 points, with the top states receiving an A- grade.

Net Migration Rank: No. 6

Adults with Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 35.9%

Career Education Credential: 16.7%

STEM Workers: 7.1%

Right to Work State? Yes

2. Florida

Florida's workforce development programs have improved significantly, with nearly 86% of participants finding work within six months of completing their training, compared to just 59% a year ago. This improvement has raised Florida's ranking in the important metric of the Workforce category from the worst in the nation to the third best.

In June, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the 2024-25 budget for Florida, which included $75 million in grants to enhance workforce education.

Although the state lags behind in STEM workers, it ranks 26th in educational attainment among its workforce.

The 2024 Workforce Score is 282 out of 375 points, with the top states receiving an "A" grade.

Net Migration Rank: No. 1

Adults with Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 32.3%

Career Education Credential: 19.4%

STEM Workers: 5.4%

Right to Work State: Yes

1. Texas

In 2021, the Census Bureau's most recent data shows that 2.4 million college-educated workers moved to Texas, surpassing the 2.2 million who left. This makes Texas an incredibly attractive destination for talent, despite its strong economic growth. As a result, the state has the workforce to sustain its continued growth.

In a recent monthly labor market update, Texas Workforce Commissioner Alberto Treviño stated that Texas is still leading the nation in most industries and is continuing to add more employed individuals.

Despite the influx of new Texans into the workforce, providing effective training to those in need can be challenging. While only about 79% of participants in state worker training programs find work within six months, this is the only area where Texas falls slightly below the national average. Overall, Texas has the strongest workforce in America.

The 2024 Workforce Score is 297 out of 375 points, with the top states receiving an A+ grade.

Net Migration Rank: No. 3

Adults with Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 32.3%

Career Education Credential: 15.5%

STEM Workers: 7%

Right to Work State? Yes