Talent Attraction Scorecard 2026

Strong regions do more than attract great talent.

Over our 11 years of producing the Talent Attraction Scorecard, we’ve occasionally considered renaming the annual ranking to something like the Talent Development Scorecard. That’s because the states and regions that perform the best in the scorecard don’t just focus on attracting workers to their areas. They prioritize talent retention and obsess over every step in the process of developing a thriving talent ecosystem — from K–12 career awareness to adult learner support.

At the same time, the attraction of prime-age people and earners remains a core part of our ranking and is vitally important to communities in an era of aging demographics and stubborn skills mismatches. No matter the hype or fears about AI, the battle for talent in the skilled trades, healthcare, and other sectors continues to rage. And as our partner DCI’s survey-based research shows, relocation remains very relevant for those who can afford to move.

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