Ranked: America’s 25 Best Cities for Work in 2026

Where AI Exposure Is Highest Across the U.S.

Artificial intelligence is becoming capable of performing tasks across a growing range of white-collar and technical occupations.

This visualization maps all 50 states and Washington, D.C., by the share of workers employed in occupations considered highly exposed to AI-related disruption. It also highlights the states with the largest and smallest numbers of workers in these roles.

The data for this visualization comes from SmartAsset, using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and research from the Virginia Economic Information and Analytics Division. The analysis covers 26 occupations identified as having particularly high exposure to potential AI-related disruption.

AI exposure does not necessarily mean these jobs will disappear. Instead, it reflects how susceptible their tasks may be to changes such as automation, weaker hiring demand, wage pressure, or restructuring as AI tools become more capable.

Why Washington Tops the Map

Washington ranks first, with 5.7% of its workforce employed in highly AI-exposed occupations.

The state’s large technology sector helps explain its position, with companies such as Microsoft and Amazon supporting a significant concentration of software developers, programmers, database specialists, and other digital roles.

Virginia follows at 4.6%, reflecting its mix of technology firms, federal contractors, and knowledge-based employment. Washington, D.C., ranks third at 4.5%, while California and Utah round out the top five at 4.0% each.

At the other end of the ranking, Mississippi has the lowest share in the study, at 1.9%.

California Has the Most AI-Exposed Jobs

California has the largest absolute number of workers in highly exposed occupations, with approximately 724,000 positions.

Texas follows with about 500,000, while New York and Florida each have roughly 301,000.

At the other end of the scale, Wyoming has just 6,000 AI-exposed positions, followed by Alaska and Vermont at about 8,000 each.

What Types of Jobs Are Most Exposed to AI?

The 26 occupations span technology, communications, administration, finance, and other knowledge-based fields.

Mathematicians rank as the most exposed occupation, followed by proofreaders, correspondence clerks, court reporters, and media and communication workers. Computer programmers, database administrators, web developers, software developers, writers, translators, payroll clerks, and bookkeeping workers also appear on the list.

Many of these roles involve processing information, generating or reviewing text, working with structured data, or performing routine digital tasks, all areas where generative AI and other automation tools have advanced quickly.

Still, exposure should be interpreted as the potential for jobs to change rather than a direct estimate of how many positions will ultimately be eliminated.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the smartest AI models in 2026.

Does Your State Trade More With China or the EU?

China and the European Union are two of America’s biggest trading partners, but their influence looks very different from state to state.

This U.S. map highlights which states trade more with China versus the European Union, using 2025 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Only goods trade is included; trade in services is excluded.

A Trade War on Two Fronts

Within months of the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, the U.S. announced sweeping tariffs on dozens of economies, including major trading partners such as China and the EU.

The U.S. initially announced a 34% reciprocal tariff on Chinese goods in April 2025, which was later raised above 100% amid retaliatory measures before being reduced. Against that backdrop, U.S.-China trade fell 29% from the previous year.

The table below lists U.S. states based on whether they traded more with China or the EU in 2025.

Four states shifted to trading more with the EU than China in 2025: Alaska, Illinois, Oregon, and Wyoming. They joined 41 other states and Washington, D.C., in the EU-oriented group.

With Illinois switching sides, every state east of the Mississippi River now trades more with the EU than with China.

How EU Trade Gained Ground

The EU was also subject to the so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs, initially facing a 20% reciprocal tariff. Following negotiations between the U.S. and European Commission, the two sides announced a trade deal in July 2025 that capped most U.S. tariffs on EU goods at 15%.

Over the full year, U.S.-China goods trade declined by more than a quarter, while total EU-U.S. trade increased from 2024.

The states trading the most with the EU were Texas ($114 billion), Indiana ($110 billion), and California ($67 billion). Indiana stands out in particular, with the EU accounting for about half of its goods trade, supported by the state’s large pharmaceutical industry and companies such as Eli Lilly.

The Five States Still Oriented Toward China

Only California, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Washington traded more with China than with the European Union in 2025.

California led by a wide margin, recording more than $86 billion in two-way goods trade with China.

The five states have distinct industries that help explain their trade ties with China. These include California’s port-driven electronics imports, aerospace exports from Washington, and semiconductor production in New Mexico.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To see how transatlantic trade ties are expanding, check out Revitalized U.S. Role in EU Trade since the Mid-2010s on Voronoi.