Find a Job You Really Want In
Are you on a job hunt in 2026?
When searching for a new role, certain companies likely come to mind first. These may be local favorites or well-known national brands. Perhaps a friend or family member is employed there, or maybe you’re a fan of their products or services. Whatever the reason, there’s a noticeable trend in which companies attract the most applications from job seekers across different states.
We conducted an analysis to uncover which company each state’s workforce is most eager to apply to compared to other states.
Continue reading to discover our intriguing findings and the methodology behind our research.
Key Findings
- Georgia shows a strong preference for “c” companies: Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A, and Clorox.
- In Oklahoma, residents are more inclined to seek employment with Pepsi rather than referring to soda as “coke.”
- Alaska‘s workforce is particularly interested in Census jobs, while those in Hawaii are drawn to opportunities with the Post Office.
- Louisiana workers are keen to apply to Popeye’s, making it a top choice for job seekers in the state.
- Alabama’s job seekers have a notable interest in GameStop, suggesting a unique trend in the gaming industry.
- While we highlighted Hawaii’s interest in USPS jobs, the state also shows considerable demand for positions in various hotels (Marriott, Hilton, etc.).
- Freddie Mac in Virginia may not be widely recognized, but many people with student loans are familiar with it.
- In Illinois, job seekers are excited about the employee discount at Walgreens.
- The Northeastern region is home to popular brands like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Timberland, and LL Bean. Perhaps Wyoming should consider relocating Sierra Trading Post?
- Many of the highlighted companies have a robust retail presence and substantial corporate operations within their respective states, such as Target in Minnesota and Marquee Cinemas in West Virginia.
Research Methodology
Our goal was not to identify the most applied-to company overall, but to determine which company workers in each state are more likely to apply to than those in other states.
Using Google Trends, we analyzed application interest levels for over 300 companies, focusing on consumer-recognized brands. We identified the state with the highest search interest related to job applications for each company, using keywords like “jobs,” “careers,” and “hire.” These terms are indicative of active job seekers, differentiating casual searches from those genuinely seeking employment.
Wishing You Success in Your Job Search!
With this insight, you now know which companies are particularly popular among job seekers in your state. While we can’t guarantee that these companies are hiring extensively, they likely have a significant presence in your area and may be worth exploring further.
The Company Workers In Each State Apply To More Than Any Other
| State | Company |
|---|---|
| Alabama | GameStop |
| Alaska | Census jobs |
| Arizona | Jack In The Box |
| Arkansas | McDonald’s |
| California | SpaceX |
| Colorado | Dish Network |
| Connecticut | Cigna Health Insurance |
| Delaware | Comcast |
| Florida | Disney |
| Georgia | Chick-fil-A |
| Hawaii | United States Post Office |
| Idaho | Albertsons |
| Illinois | Walgreens |
| Indiana | Arby’s |
| Iowa | John Deere |
| Kansas | AMC Theatres |
| Kentucky | Kroger |
| Louisiana | Popeyes |
| Maine | LL Bean |
| Maryland | Oracle |
| Massachusetts | Ocean Spray |
| Michigan | Ford |
| Minnesota | Target |
| Mississippi | Walmart |
| Missouri | Aldi |
| Montana | Washington Companies |
| Nebraska | Kellogg’s |
| Nevada | Amazon |
| New Hampshire | Timberland |
| New Jersey | Burlington Coat Factory |
| New Mexico | Dollar Tree |
| New York | Wegmans |
| North Carolina | Lowe’s |
| North Dakota | Bobcat Company |
| Ohio | Chipotle |
| Oklahoma | Pepsi |
| Oregon | Nike |
| Pennsylvania | GAP |
| Rhode Island | CVS |
| South Carolina | Verizon |
| South Dakota | Super 8 Hotel |
| Tennessee | FedEx |
| Texas | HEB |
| Utah | eBay |
| Vermont | Dick’s Sporting Goods |
| Virginia | Freddie Mac |
| Washington | Starbucks |
| West Virginia | Marquee Cinemas |
| Wisconsin | Culver’s |
| Wyoming | Sierra Trading Post |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
