President Trump has called the word tariff “the most beautiful word in the dictionary.” He imposed hefty tariffs during his first term and promised expansive new ones as he pursued his second. On his first day back in the White House in January, he issued an executive order directing his cabinet picks to prepare even more tariffs.

It’s been hard to keep track of the state of tariffs in the first 100 days of Mr. Trump’s second term.

April was an especially turbulent month: Mr. Trump issued his most punishing tariffs yet before abruptly reversing them for 90 days. China was not included in that pause, and tariffs on China skyrocketed to a minimum of 145 percent.

Mr. Trump’s strategy has already upended diplomatic ties, shaken markets and confounded entire industries. The tariffs target nations that supply a wide variety of goods to the United States, and Americans are likely to see higher prices on cars, electronics, groceries, liquors, lumber and gas as a result.

With graduation season in full swing, employers are poised to welcome into the workplace the next crop of newly minted graduates. Given that these Gen Z workers are projected to comprise 30% of the United States workforce by 2030, savvy companies and organizations would be wise to pay attention to what this generation wants from work.

Fortunately for employers, Gen Z job candidates tend to be forthcoming about what they’re seeking. “Companies are seeing a more empowered generation of graduates,” says Estrella Serrato, a college and postgraduate coach and host of Cafecito con Estrellita, a podcast focused on first-generation graduates. “New grads are showing up with questions about company values, social impact, and how mental health is supported in the workplace.”

New grads are also prioritizing their career goals. “Younger job candidates, especially Gen Z, are looking for more than just a paycheck,” says Serrato. In addition to work-life balance, she says, these employees want “purpose-driven work” and “growth opportunities they can actually see and experience.”

Deloitte’s 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey backs this up. The annual report, based on responses from 23,482 Gen Zs and Millennials across 44 countries, found that 89% of Gen Zs and 92% of Millennials say a sense of purpose is important to their job satisfaction and well-being. In fact, the research showed that 44% of Gen Zs and 45% of Millennials have left a job because it lacked purpose for them. Additionally, career growth and development were crucial, with the majority of respondents saying they want mentorship and guidance from experienced colleagues (86% of Gen Zs and 84% of Millennials) and on-the-job learning and practical experience (89% of both Gen Zs and Millennials).

But these mission-driven young workers should not be mistaken for unrealistic dreamers. With more than half of Gen Zs and Millennials living paycheck to paycheck, and more than one third struggling to pay their monthly expenses, according to the Deloitte survey, new grads must also focus on their bottom line. “They’re asking early about salary ranges,” says Serrato. And in the first interview, “they aren’t afraid to ask, ‘What does advancement look like here?’”

Forbes partnered with market research firm America’s Best Employers For New Grads 2025. To answer these questions,partnered with market research firm Statista for the eighth straight year to rank

The list is based on survey responses from more than 100,000 young professionals (defined as those with less than 10 years of work experience) working for companies with at least 1,000 employees in the U.S. Respondents were asked whether they would recommend their employer to others, and to rate it in such areas as wages, benefits, advancement opportunities, working conditions, flexibility, company image and inclusion. Participants were also asked whether they would recommend any of their previous employers or those they knew through their respective industries or through family and friends working there.

Survey responses were considered from the last three years and incorporated into a scoring system—with heavier weights placed on the more recent data and on recommendations from current employees. Each company received a score, and the 500 organizations with the highest scores made our ranking, which is directly below.

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The City of Statesboro has earned national recognition as one of WalletHub’s “Best Small Cities to Start a Business” for 2025, landing at No. 24 out of over 1,300 cities evaluated across the country.

The City of Statesboro is proud to announce its inclusion in WalletHub’s 2025 ranking of the “Best Small Cities to Start a Business,” securing the 24th position among over 1,300 small cities evaluated nationwide. This recognition highlights Statesboro’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and supportive environment for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Statesboro is one of three Georgia cities to make the top 25 list, along with LaGrange and Carrollton.

WalletHub’s comprehensive study assessed cities based on 18 key metrics, including business environment, access to resources, and business costs. Statesboro’s strong performance in these areas underscores its appeal as a hub for innovation and economic growth.

Mayor Jonathan McCollar expressed his enthusiasm about the recognition, stating, “Statesboro’s inclusion in this ranking is a testament to our community’s dedication to economic vitality and fostering a vibrant community that’s welcoming to all. We are committed to continuing our efforts to make Statesboro a premier destination to start a business, plant roots, and visit.”

While WalletHub’s published article did not provide a detailed breakdown of Statesboro’s score, Mayor McCollar identified several key factors that he felt contributed to the city’s business-friendly environment:

Educated Workforce: “We have an established pipeline of educated and skilled professionals,” McCollar explained. “From Georgia Southern University to Ogeechee Technical College and East Georgia State College, our community produces a steady stream of workforce-ready individuals.”

Industry Variety: Statesboro’s role as a regional hub for diverse industries offers significant opportunities for both employers and employees. This diversity was one of the metrics evaluated in WalletHub’s study.

Community Collaboration: “I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize the Development Authority of Bulloch County for their excellent work in attracting and retaining businesses. They provide resources and support to facilitate growth,” McCollar noted.

McCollar also emphasized the importance of Statesboro’s strong sense of community: “We’re a family, and we work together to ensure everyone has a seat at the table and that their voice is heard. While this isn’t a tangible metric, it’s a sentiment deeply felt by our local business owners.”

Local organizations, such as the Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Statesboro’s Business Commission, play pivotal roles in promoting business-friendly policies and offering networking opportunities. Their efforts continue to strengthen Statesboro’s reputation as a prime location for entrepreneurial success.

Statesboro’s Top 25 accolade aligns with Georgia’s broader recognition as a top state for business. In 2025, Georgia was named the No. 2 Best State to Start a Business by WalletHub, reflecting the state’s commitment to creating an environment conducive to business success.

Statesboro’s recognition as a top city to start a business reinforces its position as a hub for innovation and economic growth in the region. The city remains dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and fostering a thriving business community.

Today in the United States, there are approximately 7.6 million open jobs, yet only about 7.1 million unemployed workers, according to a recent report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce . And while this labor shortage has been abating over the last few years, businesses in many industries must still contend with the fact that there are simply not enough available workers to fill the current job openings. Ironically, despite this surplus of jobs, it takes, on average, between 23 and 25 weeks for an unemployed worker to secure a new position, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Forbes has partnered with market research firm America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms, and America’s Best Temporary Staffing Firms. Fortunately for both job candidates and employers, recruiting firms across the country specialize in accelerating the job-seeking and hiring process while matching employees with the right role at the right organization. And to help workers and companies determine which recruiting firms are doing this best,has partnered with market research firm Statista to rank America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms (below),, and

These ninth-annual rankings are based on survey responses from more than 16,700 participants—composed of recruiters, HR managers, hiring managers and recent job candidates—surveyed between November 2024 and January 2025. Responses from the previous year’s survey were included as well, though with a lesser weighting. The firms with the most recommendations made it onto our rankings.

The executive recruiting list includes the top 175 companies that specialize in filling positions with salaries of at least $100,000; the professional recruiting list consists of the top 225 companies that specialize in filling positions with salaries of less than $100,000; the temp staffing list includes the top 200 companies that focus on matching job candidates with employers for temporary and contract positions.

To see our full list of America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms 2025, click here.

To see our full list of America’s Best Temporary Staffing Firms 2025, click here.

To see our list of America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms 2025, scroll directly below.

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For the third year in a row, the Beehive State is No. 1 in rankings that measure health care, education, economy and more.

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and civic journalism, today announced the 2025 Best States rankings. The 2025 rankings evaluated all 50 states to capture how they best serve their citizens across a range of categories, including health care , education , economy , infrastructure , opportunity , fiscal stability , crime & corrections , and natural environment . For the third consecutive year, Utah earned top recognition as the No. 1 state in the country.

“Utah’s third straight No. 1 ranking is a reflection of the incredible people who make this state what it is,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. “It’s not just our economy or our beautiful outdoors – it’s the hardworking, service-minded people who continue to make Utah the best place to live, work and raise a family. I’m grateful every day to stand with Utahns as we keep strengthening the state we love.”

Key findings in the 2025 Best States rankings:

Utah , No. 1 overall, landed in the top 20 across seven of the eight categories. However, it underperforms in the environment category (where it ranks No. 48).

However, it underperforms in the environment category (where it ranks No. 48). New Jersey secured top placement for education overall, while Florida dominates higher ed. New Jersey , the No. 1 state overall in the education category, ranks in the top 5 for all pre-K-12 metrics, including preschool enrollment, standardized test scores and high school graduation rate. Florida , which came in at No. 2 overall for education, is top-ranked in the higher education subcategory because of its low costs for college tuition and fees, and its impressive graduation rates for two- and four-year programs.

, the No. 1 state overall in the education category, ranks in the top 5 for all pre-K-12 metrics, including preschool enrollment, standardized test scores and high school graduation rate. , which came in at No. 2 overall for education, is top-ranked in the higher education subcategory because of its low costs for college tuition and fees, and its impressive graduation rates for two- and four-year programs. Western states generally perform much better in higher education than in pre-K-12. Washington , California , Idaho and Nevada , for example, rank in the top 15 in the higher education subcategory, but all four rank significantly lower in the pre-K-12 education subcategory.

, , and , for example, rank in the top 15 in the higher education subcategory, but all four rank significantly lower in the pre-K-12 education subcategory. Hawaii leads the way in health care. At No. 1 overall in this category, Hawaii is also ranked No. 1 in the subcategory of health care quality, No. 4 in the subcategory of health care access and No. 6 in the subcategory of public health, due to its high scoring on metrics like health care affordability, mental health and low mortality rate.

“Amidst economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and evolving trade policies, the 2025 Best States rankings offer a critical benchmark for business leaders, investors and policymakers to assess economic competitiveness, workforce strength, infrastructure quality and long-term growth potential across all 50 states in the United States,” said U.S. News Executive Chairman & CEO Eric Gertler. “The 2025 Best State rankings provide a comprehensive, data-driven picture of how each state serves its residents – and thereby helping business leaders decide where to invest their capital, help residents decide where to live and help policymakers understand the best policies to drive improvements in their states.”

In its seventh edition, the Best States rankings draw upon 71 metrics and thousands of data points to measure how well U.S. states are performing for their citizens. In addition to health care and education, the metrics take into account a state’s economic growth; its roads, bridges, internet access and other infrastructure; its public safety record; the fiscal stability of state government; and the opportunity it affords its residents. More weight was accorded to some metric categories than others, based on surveys of what matters most to residents.

2025 Best States Rankings

*See the full rankings here .

Overall – Top 10

1. Utah

2. New Hampshire

3. Idaho

4. Minnesota

5. Nebraska

6. Florida

7. Vermont

8. South Dakota

9. Massachusetts

10. Washington

Health Care

1. Hawaii

2. Massachusetts

3. Connecticut

Education

1. New Jersey

2. Florida

3. Colorado

Economy

1. Florida

2. Texas

3. Utah

Infrastructure

1. Nebraska

2. South Dakota

3. Utah

Opportunity

1. Vermont

2. Iowa

3. Maine

Fiscal Stability

1. Utah

2. Delaware

3. New York

Crime & Corrections

1. New Hampshire

2. Maine

3. Hawaii

Natural Environment

1. Hawaii

2. Maryland

3. Massachusetts

The 2025 Best States rankings are unpacked in data-driven stories , including a look at why Utah is America’s Best State and the social and political factors that could be driving its success, as well as a dive into rankings-related survey results that show Americans remain concerned about their cost of living and consider vaccines an important tool for public health. Readers can also take a U.S. News quiz to find out which is the best state for them.

The Best States rankings are the centerpiece of the U.S. News Best States portal, a platform combining analysis, daily reporting, historical information and photography on state issues. Best States is part of U.S. News’ civic journalism portfolio, which includes the Best Countries report and the Healthiest Communities project .

To view the full rankings and search state profiles, visit www.usnews.com/states . For more information on Best States, follow coverage on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) using #BestStates.

U.S. News Media Contact: Kate Haas, [email protected] , 202-955-2120

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.