Hawaii ranked among the easiest places to begin a new career in the US, national study show
Iowa ranks as the best state for employee onboarding with an overall index score of 69.90 out of 100. The Hawkeye State scored particularly well in the percentage of job descriptions with onboarding keywords (37.62%) and shows relatively high average ratings for reviews mentioning onboarding (3.98 out of 5). Iowa’s success suggests employers in the state prioritize smooth transitions for new hires.
Hawaii comes in second with a score almost tied with Iowa at 69.88 out of 100. The statistics show that Hawaii stands out with the highest overall rating (3.61) and senior management rating (3.25) among all states, indicating strong leadership support during the onboarding process. Hawaii also shows strong performance in the percentage of reviews mentioning onboarding (4.22%).
Top 10 States for Employee Onboarding Quality
| Rank | State | Index Score | % of Job Descriptions with Onboarding Keywords | Average Rating for Reviews out of 5 | % of Reviews with Onboarding Keywords |
| 1 | Iowa | 69.90 | 37.62% | 3.98 | 4.18% |
| 2 | Hawaii | 69.88 | 38.67% | 3.98 | 4.22% |
| 3 | Vermont | 69.41 | 39.95% | 4.25 | 3.91% |
| 4 | Colorado | 68.52 | 41.50% | 3.88 | 4.21% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 66.57 | 40.08% | 3.97 | 4.06% |
| 6 | Idaho | 66.11 | 42.27% | 3.79 | 4.31% |
| 7 | Montana | 65.63 | 41.86% | 3.80 | 4.43% |
| 8 | New Mexico | 65.12 | 40.21% | 3.88 | 4.24% |
| 9 | Florida | 64.61 | 32.12% | 3.88 | 4.21% |
| 10 | Oregon | 63.89 | 39.43% | 3.89 | 4.17% |
In contrast to the top performers, several states show significant room for improvement in their onboarding processes. The statistics show that Southern states dominate the bottom rankings, with Mississippi scoring the lowest nationwide.
Bottom 10 States for Employee Onboarding Quality
| Rank | State | Index Score | % of Job Descriptions with Onboarding Keywords | Average Rating for Reviews | % of Reviews with Onboarding Keywords |
| 1 | Mississippi | 25.61 | 31.57% | 3.72 | 3.79% |
| 2 | Louisiana | 42.77 | 23.27% | 3.91 | 3.93% |
| 3 | Delaware | 44.35 | 35.36% | 3.87 | 4.36% |
| 4 | Georgia | 44.40 | 30.19% | 3.85 | 3.95% |
| 5 | Kentucky | 46.66 | 32.98% | 3.79 | 3.79% |
| 6 | Maine | 47.24 | 34.48% | 3.85 | 3.79% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 47.86 | 34.50% | 3.83 | 3.74% |
| 8 | Alabama | 48.76 | 33.00% | 3.85 | 4.11% |
| 9 | New Jersey | 50.07 | 26.95% | 3.87 | 4.03% |
| 10 | Tennessee | 50.09 | 32.66% | 3.83 | 3.90% |
Beyond the rankings, the data revealed some interesting patterns. Alaska had the highest percentage of job descriptions with onboarding keywords (43.19%) but ranked only 23rd overall due to other factors. North Dakota and Rhode Island showed high search volumes similar to Delaware, suggesting a greater need for onboarding guidance in these states.
