South Dakota is one of the states that is weathering the unemployment storm quite well, thank you!
How the mighty have fallen.
Nevada, California, and Florida have the nation’s weakest economies, according to a midyear review of state employment trends by Portfolio.com and bizjournals. That’s a stunning reversal from half a decade ago. Nevada and Florida finished first and second, respectively, in 2005’s midyear review. California was a respectable 11th.
But this year’s study puts Nevada in 51st place, dead last among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. California (50th) and Florida (49th) are barely a step ahead.
On the other hand…
Surprises can also be found at the top of the new midyear standings. Tiny North Dakota enjoys the nation’s strongest economy at the moment, and Alaska holds second place, according to the Portfolio.com/bizjournals rankings….
But the severity of the economic recession has been tempered in states with affordable housing, especially those in the heartland that stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. Six of the top 10 states are located within that broad belt, including North Dakota (first place), Texas (third), South Dakota (fourth), Nebraska (sixth), Louisiana (seventh), and Utah (10th)
Not too shabby.