Study finds Mississippi leads nation in business hiring optimism

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi businesses are the most optimistic in the country regarding future hiring, according to a new LendingTree analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

The report, which examines the Business Trends and Outlook Survey, found that 16.2 percent of Mississippi businesses expect to increase their number of paid employees over the next six months. With only 6.8 percent of the state’s businesses anticipating a decrease, Mississippi maintains a 9.4-point positive difference—the highest “net-optimistic” score in the United States.

A National Outlook on Growth

Nationally, the appetite for expansion remains steady but cautious. Approximately 14.6 percent of U.S. businesses expect to add staff by early 2026, while 10.3 percent anticipate reductions. A vast majority, 75.1 percent, expect their staffing levels to remain unchanged.

While the national percentage of businesses planning to hire is up from 13.2 percent during the same period in 2024, it has dipped slightly from the 15.5 percent recorded in March 2025.

Top States for Business Optimism

Mississippi, New Mexico, and West Virginia lead the pack for projected workforce growth. The study highlighted a notable trend: “Red” states, or those that supported President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, dominate the list of most optimistic regions.

State	Expect Increase	Expect Decrease	Net Optimism
Mississippi	16.2 percent	6.8 percent	9.4 pts
New Mexico	16.6 percent	7.8 percent	8.8 pts
West Virginia	15.4 percent	7.1 percent	8.3 pts

Conversely, Montana ranked as the least optimistic state, with 17.7 percent of businesses expecting to reduce staff—a 9.4-point negative difference.

Sector Performance and Political Divides

The data reveals a stark contrast between industries. The health care and social assistance sector is currently the most optimistic, boasting a 10.4-point positive hiring outlook. On the other end of the spectrum, the accommodation and food services sector faces the most challenges, with 18.1 percent of businesses bracing for staff reductions.

Political affiliation also appears to correlate with business outlooks. According to the LendingTree report, 11 of the 12 most optimistic states voted for Trump, while 10 of the 12 least optimistic states supported Vice President Kamala Harris.

Year-Over-Year Gains

Mississippi is not only leading in current optimism but is also one of the most improved. Along with South Dakota and Missouri, the Magnolia State saw the largest year-over-year increases in business confidence, defying a broader trend where 29 states reported lower optimism than they held in 2024.