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Lightcast's 2025 Talent Scorecard: State Rankings and Trends

On September 15, 2025, Lightcast unveiled its latest 2025 Talent Attraction Scorecard, marking a decade of gathering crucial insights into talent migration across the United States. According to this report, Florida maintains its title as the leading state for attracting talent, followed closely by Texas in second place. This edition of the scorecard highlights the sustained strength of the Sunbelt and Mountain West regions, with eight of the top ten states for talent attraction situated in these areas.

Key Highlights from the Scorecard

The 2025 Talent Attraction Scorecard indicates a continued dominance of the Sunbelt and Mountain West in attracting skilled workers. States like Wyoming have made impressive strides, achieving a top 5 ranking alongside Idaho, which ranks third overall. The top ten states recognized for their capability to attract talent include:

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Idaho
4. Wyoming
5. Nevada
6. District of Columbia
7. Arizona
8. Delaware
9. Utah
10. Montana

Prominent highlights show that demographic shifts, the rise of remote work, and changing worker preferences are significantly reshaping talent distribution across the nation. This data is crucial, as communities increasingly rely on these insights for sustainable economic development initiatives.

Metropolitan Rankings

The talent attraction prowess of Florida and Texas extends to metropolitan areas, where these states account for eight of the top ten large metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). In Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth sits proudly at number one, followed by Austin at number two and Houston at number six. Florida's metropolitan areas claim the remaining positions in the top ten:

1. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
2. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
3. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
4. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
5. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
6. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
7. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL
8. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
9. Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
10. Naples-Marco Island, FL

Driving Trends Behind Talent Attraction

The scorecard outlines six pivotal trends affecting workforce migration:
1. Sunbelt and Mountain West Dominance: The overwhelming majority of large metropolitan areas seem to thrive in these warmer regions, with only a fraction of larger metros located elsewhere.
2. Retirement Destinations Face Challenges: Although some communities, such as The Villages in Florida, benefit from population increases due to retirees, they encounter risks associated with aging demographics, affecting long-term workforce viability.
3. Remote Work Dynamics: With 14% of the workforce working remotely—peaking at 28% in some cities like Boulder, Colorado—localities must focus on attracting individuals who can work independently rather than just drawing employers.
4. Shortage of Blue-Collar Workers: Fast-growing regions experience difficulties in filling essential blue-collar roles, creating bottlenecks in housing and infrastructure development despite population growth.
5. Emerging Tech Hubs: Cities like Miami and Raleigh emerge as strong contenders against traditional tech hubs such as San Francisco and Seattle in attracting talent.
6. Risks for Anchor Institutions: While universities, hospitals, and military facilities attract talent, an over-reliance on them could expose communities to vulnerabilities from potential closures or downsizing.

Evaluation Metrics

Lightcast utilizes a comprehensive evaluation system across 50 states and over 900 metropolitan and micropolitan areas, measuring job growth in several categories: overall job growth, college-level job growth, blue-collar job growth, growth in high-earning jobs, regional competitiveness, attraction of earners, and prime-age talent. Combining proprietary data with government statistics, the scorecard offers a detailed look into shifting workforce dynamics.

Conclusion and the Road Ahead

Over the past decade, the Talent Attraction Scorecard has become an invaluable tool for economic development. Communities leveraging Lightcast's insights have managed to secure substantial investments, implement tailored workforce programs, and develop compelling strategies for attracting and retaining businesses."

As noted by Josh Wright, Executive Vice President of Growth at Lightcast, the scorecard provides not just a snapshot of where communities currently stand but also offers a framework for defining their future objectives. As communities utilize this data, they can actively influence their economic trajectories based on informed decisions about migration and workforce management. Lightcast continues to serve as a leading resource in labor market intelligence, offering insights that shape economic futures across the United States and beyond.