Each state within the United States has distinct characteristics that make it unique, from signature dishes to landmarks and roadside attractions. The available jobs and career opportunities represent another factor that makes each state distinct. In some states — nine of them to be exact — the insurance industry is the leading employer. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 24/7 Wall Street recently analyzed the dominant industries in each state. The slideshow above reveals the states in which "insurance carriers and other related activities" is the biggest industry based on this analysis. |

Working in insurance

The insurance industry provides roughly 2.7 million jobs nationwide, according to the Insurance Information Institute, and the number of industry jobs has been steadily increasing over the last decade. About 60% of insurance jobs are held by women, I.I.I. reports, although women's representation in the industry varies based on the specific occupation. While roughly 51% of insurance agents are women, more than 80% of claims and processing clerks are women, according to I.I.I. Insurance also represents a field in which employees are increasingly able to work from home — a growing employment trend in the United States. In 2010, less than 5% of U.S. workers reported doing some portion of their jobs from home, according to Gallup and I.I.I. By 2016, close to half of all U.S. workers (43%) were doing their jobs remotely. Here's one more reason to consider insurance when looking at career options: The number of available jobs in the industry is expected to grow 10% by 2028, which is faster than the average for other industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite the increase in self-service insurance products, the BLS says, "agents will still be needed to help clients understand their options and choose a policy." READ MORE: |

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