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Ten states with the fastest job growth in 2016

The United States is experiencing the longest period of consecutive month-to-month job growth in its history, but there are a few states that stand out in the crowd. Kiplinger has ranked the 10 states expected to experience the fastest rates of job growth in 2016. Can you guess which one tops the chart?

2. Arizona

Mark Peterman/AP/File
Participants in Petsmart's Guinness World Records attempt stand above Chase Field in Pheonix. Petsmart is one of Arizona's largest companies, worth $7.1 billion.

Population: 6,828,000

2016 job growth: 3.2 percent

New jobs in 2016: 84,380

Unemployment rate by year-end 2016: 5.5 percent

Largest company in state: Avnet

Arizona's population growth rate accelerated from 1.3 percent to 1.4 percent in 2015, and the state saw its employment outlook improve as well. That uptick in population rate also brought an increase in housing and construction sectors of the state’s economy. In 2015, Phoenix saw 9% growth in housing prices and 46% growth in new home construction. Nice weather and low taxes draw people to the state, Arizona governor Doug Ducey told Ktar news. Kiplinger says to look for expansion from companies like Home Depot, Banner Health, and Farmers Insurance.

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