General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThese states are America's worst for quality of life in 2025 (ALL RED STATES, OF COURSE!)
American business is in the grips of a serious labor shortage, even though hiring has slowed and artificial intelligence is picking up more of the slack.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says that for every 100 job openings, only 92 workers are available to fill them. That means the nation is short about 1 million workers. To try and meet the demand, companies are seeking locations that are attractive to prospective employees. That makes quality of life a business imperative.
Each year, CNBCs annual rankings of state business climates Americas Top States for Business considers Quality of Life among ten categories of competitiveness. Under this years methodology, the category makes up 10.6% of a states overall score. We consider factors like crime, health care, air quality, and the price and availability of child care. We also consider inclusiveness of state laws, such as legal protections against discrimination. And with data showing younger workers considering reproductive rights in their choice of where they are willing to live, we factor those state laws in our rankings as well.
Some states are particularly welcoming to workers. These are not those states. They are the states with Americas worst quality of life in 2025.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/14/americas-worst-places-quality-of-life-top-states-for-business.html
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Here's the list for those who don't want to click and don't need details:
Worst of the worst: F Grade: Tennessee
Runner-Up: F Grade: TEXAS!
3rd Worst: F Grade: Indiana
4th: F Grade: Utah
5th: F Grade: Louisiana
6th: F Grade: Georgia (You can make the argument that Georgia is purple).
7th: F Grade: Alabama
8th: D- Grade: Arkansas
9th: D- Grade: Oklahoma
States were graded on: crime, health care, air quality, child care, inclusiveness and discrimination.

2naSalit
(97,315 posts)Maybe a few more.
Idaho and Montana definitely qualify.
JT45242
(3,479 posts)As more and more rural hospitals close, Iowa, Nebraska, both Dakota etc will get lower and lower scores.
Of course, the question becomes do they crack the bottom ten or do we more likely end up with 20 or so republican stronghold states that are all hell.holes to live in.
Emile
(35,885 posts)CTyankee
(66,548 posts)We got them right here!
spanone
(139,605 posts)Celerity
(50,821 posts)It's a fucking dystopian shithole, especially if you are a PoC.
Lonestarblue
(12,802 posts)Louisianas claim is usually that at least its not as bad as Mississippi.
Coventina
(28,445 posts)Mississippi ranks low in health of economy and infrastructure, and an unskilled labor force.
I think the reason why "quality of life" is considered high is because of extremely low taxes and overall cost of living.
Mississippi gets a really high score for cost of doing business,
On edit: The high score is for the LOW cost of doing business. My wording was confusing!!
Johnny2X2X
(23,056 posts)Dems need to use the terrible conditions in Red States politically. Reps have been painting California and Chicago as awful for years and it has worked for them even though those places arent awful. Republican policy leads to the poverty and crime you see in these Ref States.
Old Crank
(5,899 posts)Have to find her views. They may be harsher.
spanone
(139,605 posts)lostnfound
(17,082 posts)I like Atlanta. Good colleges, food, cool to be in a city where black people are leaders and theres a feeling of freedom in the vibe.
They also had the Carters, until recently.
Emile
(35,885 posts)CTyankee
(66,548 posts)As a former resident of Texas (3rd generation) I went north and never came back and all the people in my family whom I deeply love are in blue states, except one. I fervently hope she does well in Austin. My uncle was a state senator and a judge in Brownwood so I have deep roots in the state.
Perhaps it will take a few brave women and men from blue states to re-settle the state, this time with settlers who are wise, progressive and kind hearted.
I truly hope this will someday be the case...