2017 Best (And Worst) States To Find Smart Workers

Where The Talented Workers Are – And Aren't

Ask any solution provider what their biggest challenge is and the answer is likely to be the task of finding and hiring the right technical, managerial and sales talent that a growing company needs.

As part of the 2017 Best States to Start a Solution Provider Business project, we've ranked the states according to the overall education and experience levels of their available workforce. The analysis included the percent of a state's population with bachelor's and advanced degrees, postings for tech occupations and job openings, and the percent of a state's private sector workers employed by tech industry firms.

The following are the 10 states with the highest rankings for educated and experienced workers, listed from No. 10 to No. 1. The states with the lowest rankings are then listed from No. 41 to No. 50. Keep in mind that the states with the best talent may also be among the most expensive places to do business.

Best States No. 10: Washington

In Washington 12.5 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 13).

The Evergreen State is ranked No. 4 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (8.6 percent) and ranked No. 15 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

Washington is ranked No. 19 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Washington grew its workforce by 3.0 percent in 2016.

Best States No. 9: California

In California 12 percent of Washington residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 15).

The Golden State is ranked No. 6 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (8.4 percent) and ranked No. 1 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

California is ranked No. 28 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

California grew its workforce by 2.0 percent in 2016.

Best States No. 8: Minnesota

In Minnesota 11.8 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 17).

The North Star State is ranked No. 15 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (5.8 percent) and ranked No. 17 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

Minnesota is ranked No. 2 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Minnesota grew its workforce by 1.5 percent in 2016.

Best States No. 7: Maryland

In Maryland 17.7 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 2).

The Old Line State is ranked No. 4 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (8.6 percent) and ranked No. 14 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

Maryland is ranked No. 25 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Maryland grew its workforce by 1.1 percent in 2016.

Best States No. 6: Connecticut

In Connecticut 16.7 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 3).

The Constitution State is ranked No. 20 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (5.2 percent) and ranked No. 21 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

Connecticut is ranked No. 3 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Connecticut's workforce declined by 0.1 percent in 2016.

Best States No. 5: Colorado

In Colorado 14.5 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 7).

The Centennial State is ranked No. 3 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (9.3 percent) and ranked No. 16 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

Colorado is ranked No. 12 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Colorado grew its workforce by 1.9 percent in 2016.

Best States No. 4: New Jersey

In New Jersey 14.3 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 8).

The Garden State is ranked No. 10 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (6.4 percent) and ranked No. 10 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

New Jersey is ranked No. 4 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

New Jersey grew its workforce by 0.3 percent in 2016.

Best States No. 3: New York

In New York 15 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 5).

The Empire State is ranked No. 23 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (4.9 percent) and ranked No. 3 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

New York is ranked No. 5 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

New York grew its workforce by 1.2 percent in 2016.

Best States No. 2: Virginia

In Virginia 15.7 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 4).

The Old Dominion State is ranked No. 2 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (9.5 percent) and ranked No. 4 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

Virginia is ranked No. 13 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Virginia grew its workforce by 1.3 percent in 2016.

Best States No. 1: Massachusetts

Massachusetts has the most educated and experienced workforce in this year's CRN Best States analysis.

In the Bay State 18.4 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 1).

Massachusetts is ranked No. 1 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (9.9 percent) and ranked No. 8 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 1 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Massachusetts grew its workforce by 2.1 percent in 2016.

Worst States No. 41: North Dakota

In North Dakota only 7.7 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree, the smallest percentage of any of the 50 states. It was ranked No. 33 for the share of the labor force without a four-year college degree (69.2 percent).

The Peace Garden State is ranked No. 35 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (3.6 percent) and ranked No. 48 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 13 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

North Dakota's workforce declined by 2.9 percent in 2016.

Worst States No. 42: Alaska

In Alaska 11 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree, ranking it No. 21. It was ranked No. 37 for the share of the labor force without a four-year college degree (70.1 percent).

The Last Frontier State is ranked No. 33 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (4.2 percent) and ranked No. 50 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 42 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Alaska's workforce declined by 0.4 percent in 2016.

Worst States No. 43: Idaho

In Idaho 8.2 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 42) and the state was ranked No. 42 for the share of the labor force without a four-year college degree (71 percent).

The Gem State is ranked No. 15 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (5.8 percent) and ranked No. 41 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 44 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Idaho's workforce grew 3.0 percent in 2016.

Worst States No. 44: South Dakota

In South Dakota 7.9 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 46) and the state was ranked No. 40 for the share of the labor force without a four-year college degree (70.9 percent).

The Mount Rushmore State is ranked No. 42 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (3.1 percent) and ranked No. 44 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 25 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

South Dakota's workforce grew 1.8 percent in 2016.

Worst States No. 45: Oklahoma

In Oklahoma 8.1 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 43) and the state was ranked No. 36 for the share of the labor force without a four-year college degree (70 percent).

The Sooner State is ranked No. 44 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (2.9 percent) and ranked No. 32 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 43 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Oklahoma's workforce declined 0.4 percent in 2016.

Worst States No. 46: Arkansas

In Arkansas 7.8 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 49) and the state was ranked No. 44 for the share of the labor force without a four-year college degree (72.6 percent).

The Natural State is ranked No. 48 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (2.7 percent) and ranked No. 38 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 38 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Arkansas' workforce grew 1.6 percent in 2016.

Worst States No. 47: Louisiana

In Louisiana 8 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 45) and the state was ranked No. 45 for the share of the labor force without a four-year college degree (72.7 percent).

The Pelican State is ranked No. 44 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (2.9 percent) and ranked No. 35 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 48 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Louisiana's workforce declined by 0.7 percent in 2016.

Worst States No. 48: Nevada

In Nevada 8.1 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 43) and the state was ranked No. 48 for the share of the labor force without a four-year college degree (73.9 percent).

The Silver State is ranked No. 46 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (2.8 percent) and ranked No. 33 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 50 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Nevada's workforce grew 2.6 percent in 2016.

Worst States No. 49: West Virginia

In West Virginia 7.9 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 46) and the state was ranked No. 47 for the share of the labor force without a four-year college degree (73.2 percent).

The Mountain State is ranked No. 46 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (2.8 percent) and ranked No. 46 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 39 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

West Virginia's workforce declined 0.2 percent in 2016.

Worst States No. 50: Mississippi

Mississippi was the lowest-ranked state in workforce education and experience in this year's CRN Best States analysis.

In Mississippi 7.9 percent of residents 25 or older have an advanced degree (No. 46) and the state was ranked No. 50 for the share of the labor force without a four-year college degree (75.7 percent).

The Magnolia State is ranked No. 49 for the percent of private sector workers employed by tech industry firms (2.5 percent) and ranked No. 42 for postings for tech occupation job openings.

The state is ranked No. 46 for education by CNBC America's Top States for Business.

Mississippi's workforce grew 0.7 percent in 2016.