Celebrating a Decade of Development
When the first Lightcast Talent Attraction Scorecard came out in 2015, talent attraction was a young and unfamiliar trend in economic development. Now it’s a bedrock priority. Since 2011, the prime-age population moving between states in a given year has increased by over 300,000 people—enough to populate a whole new metropolitan area.
This year, Florida has solidified its hold as the #1 state for talent attraction and job growth, with Texas again close behind at #2. However, new stories have emerged: Wyoming, a small state with a big showing in blue-collar jobs, leapfrogged into the top 5. Wyoming now joins neighboring state Idaho, a previous top performer, as #4 and #3, respectively.
At the metropolitan level, many of the highest-performing metros form a corridor stretching from the Mountain West, through the Sunbelt, and into the Southeast. Five of the top 10 large metros are in Florida, and three are in Texas, including Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin at #1 and #2.
The full rankings, drawn from Lightcast data on population growth, job growth, demographics, and salary data, breaks down every region of the country by state, and also metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), so you can see exactly how you compare to your neighbors. Interested in the big-picture view of talent attraction in 2025? On this page, Lightcast experts have identified six key trends that illuminate where jobs are moving now.
Six Key Trends
When community leaders embark on crafting a future-ready talent attraction strategy, the possibilities are endless—like navigating the open road. By identifying the overall trends shaping workforce movement this year, the Talent Attraction Scorecard provides the map.
Talent attraction looks different for every region, but we’ve identified six overall trends that have shaped this year’s rankings. The 2025 Talent Attraction Scorecard reveals a complex ecosystem where talent mobility is shaped by intersecting forces: shifting demographics, the rise of remote work, evolving worker preferences for lifestyle and affordability, and the nuanced financial incentives that distinguish certain regions for both individuals and businesses.
The Sunbelt and Mountain West Dominate Talent Attraction
With strong performance in every annual edition of the TAS, the Sunbelt and Mountain West are the clear talent attraction leaders of the past decade.
An Aging Population Creates Short-Term Gains and Long-Term Risks
The movement of the older population into retirement destinations has dramatically increased labor market demand in those areas.
Quality of Life and Affordability Drive Talent Attraction
Remote work has become a fixture in the post-pandemic labor market.
Talent Magnets Can't Find Enough Blue-Collar Workers
Many communities are adding prime-age talent but lacking blue-collar workers.
If You Built I.T., They Will Come: Tech Jobs Draw Diverse Talent
One successful way to take a big bet on layering technology into an existing industry mix is to use an all-ecosystem approach.
Anchor Institutions and Impending Vulnerability
Anchor institutions attract workers, but concentration risks vulnerability.