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Coventina

(28,445 posts)
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 04:18 AM 21 hrs ago

These 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, CNBC’s annual rankings of state business climates — America’s Top States for Business —considers Quality of Life among ten categories of competitiveness. Under this year’s methodology, the category makes up 10.6% of a state’s 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 America’s 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.

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
These states are America's worst for quality of life in 2025 (ALL RED STATES, OF COURSE!) (Original Post) Coventina 21 hrs ago OP
I can think of a couple more... 2naSalit 20 hrs ago #1
Iowa is not far behind...lagging data JT45242 19 hrs ago #2
Indiana, doesn't surprise me it would be in the top three. Emile 19 hrs ago #3
WHAT? Wasn't Trump talking about "hellhole countries"? CTyankee 19 hrs ago #4
'shithole' countries spanone 18 hrs ago #10
Mississipi not in the bottom 1 or 2 makes any list sus Celerity 19 hrs ago #5
I noticed that it was missing also. Lonestarblue 18 hrs ago #7
This was singling out "quality of life" from a larger study. Mississippi was 45 out 50 overall. Coventina 18 hrs ago #11
I've been saying this for years here Johnny2X2X 18 hrs ago #6
We have a friend who lives in Bloominton Old Crank 18 hrs ago #8
I'm in Tennessee and embarrassed. Our maga gov. & legislators are proud. spanone 18 hrs ago #9
Georgia is wonderful because they have Atlanta. lostnfound 16 hrs ago #12
Arkansas should be in the top three. Emile 15 hrs ago #13
My oldest grandchild has chosen to live and work in Austin Texas. CTyankee 14 hrs ago #14

JT45242

(3,479 posts)
2. Iowa is not far behind...lagging data
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 06:03 AM
19 hrs ago

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.

Celerity

(50,821 posts)
5. Mississipi not in the bottom 1 or 2 makes any list sus
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 06:41 AM
19 hrs ago

It's a fucking dystopian shithole, especially if you are a PoC.

Lonestarblue

(12,802 posts)
7. I noticed that it was missing also.
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 07:08 AM
18 hrs ago

Louisiana’s claim is usually that at least it’s not as bad as Mississippi.

Coventina

(28,445 posts)
11. This was singling out "quality of life" from a larger study. Mississippi was 45 out 50 overall.
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 07:11 AM
18 hrs ago

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)
6. I've been saying this for years here
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 07:02 AM
18 hrs ago

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 aren’t awful. Republican policy leads to the poverty and crime you see in these Ref States.

lostnfound

(17,082 posts)
12. Georgia is wonderful because they have Atlanta.
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 09:19 AM
16 hrs ago

I like Atlanta. Good colleges, food, cool to be in a city where black people are leaders and there’s a feeling of freedom in the vibe.
They also had the Carters, until recently.

CTyankee

(66,548 posts)
14. My oldest grandchild has chosen to live and work in Austin Texas.
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 11:34 AM
14 hrs ago

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...

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