These 10 states are likely to see the fastest employment gains this year, all topping the 2% national average.

Not all will see the most job growth, an honor that almost always goes to the most populous states, even if their rate of growth is slower. That's the case this year with Texas, New York and North Carolina.

But two large states--California and Florida--will be among the 10 fastest-growing and the 10 with the biggest gains. Northeastern states will see the least growth.

The 10 states with the fastest job growth will see employment gains ranging from 2.7% to 3.8% this year, and a pickup between 2.8% and 4.5% in 2016, when we expect the national average to hit 2.1%.

Meanwhile, look for unemployment rates to continue to decline in almost all the states. The U.S. unemployment rate, as of June, was 5.3%.

Jack Bolen contributed to this report.

Utah

Population: 2,942,902

2015 Job growth: 3.8% (forecast)

2016 Job growth: 3.4% (forecast)

New jobs in 2015: 50,100

New jobs in 2016: 46,900

Unemployment rate by year-end 2015: 3.3% (forecast)

Labor markets, which were already tight, will get even tighter as employment rises, spurred by the Beehive State's vibrant tech and financial sectors. Construction work will be going strong to keep up with demand for multifamily housing and office space.

See also: Our list of the 10 Best Jobs for the Future.

Washington

Population: 7,061,530

2015 job growth: 3.5% (forecast)

2016 job growth: 3.2% (forecast)

New jobs in 2015: 107,700

New jobs in 2016: 101,900

Unemployment rate by year-end 2015: 5.2% (forecast)

Despite layoffs at two of the state's largest employers, Boeing and Microsoft, the business outlook for both is positive. The strong dollar is denting exports of timber and seafood, but the impact may be minimal.

Idaho

Population: 1,634,464

2015 Job growth: 3.4% (forecast)

2016 Job growth: 3.6% (forecast)

New jobs in 2015: 22,300

New jobs in 2016: 24,400

Unemployment rate by year-end 2015: 3.7% (forecast)

Construction is going full steam, and employment in the tech sector is growing fast. One caveat: The strong U.S. dollar makes Idaho's timber products less competitive against Canadian imports.

Nevada

Population: 2,839,099

2015 Job growth: 3.2% (forecast)

2016 Job growth: 4.5% (forecast)

New jobs in 2015: 38,600

New jobs in 2016: 56,100

Unemployment rate by year-end 2015: 6.7% (forecast)

The stronger national economy will bring in more gamblers and conventioneers. Moreover, carmaker Tesla's planned $5-billion battery plant spells potentially thousands of new jobs.

Florida

Population: 19,893,297

2015 Job growth: 3.2% (forecast)

2016 Job growth: 3.4% (forecast)

New jobs in 2015: 253,600

New jobs in 2016: 274,700

Unemployment rate by year-end 2015: 5.5% (forecast)

Construction, tourism, health care, transportation and technology will buoy the economy. One damper: the weak economy of Latin America, which has many ties to Florida.

See also: Our list of the 10 Worst Jobs for the Future.

Oregon

Population: 3,970,239

2015 Job growth: 3.2% (forecast)

2016 Job growth: 3.4% (forecast)

New jobs in 2015: 55,100

New jobs in 2016: 60,400

Unemployment rate by year-end 2015: 5.1% (forecast)

Thriving development in Portland, spawned by tech expansions, is also lifting other cities, such as Eugene, Bend and Medford. Tech firms will remain a job magnet, along with health care and food services. Manufacturing will be strong, especially in electronics components.

Arizona

Population: 6,731,484

2015 Job growth: 3.0% (forecast)

2016 Job growth: 3.3% (forecast)

New jobs in 2015: 77,100

New jobs in 2016: 87,300

Unemployment rate by year-end 2015: 5.6% (forecast)

Arizona can finally expect a year of strong recovery after the downturn caused by the state's big housing bust. Employment growth, led by gains in health care and insurance jobs, will accelerate. The housing market will perk up, too.

Georgia

Population: 10,097,343

2015 Job growth: 2.9% (forecast)

2016 Job growth: 3.0% (forecast)

New jobs in 2015: 119,700

New jobs in 2016: 132,600

Unemployment rate by year-end 2015: 6.0% (forecast)

Strongest growth this year will occur in Atlanta and Savannah. Atlanta's airport expansion helped spur Mercedes USA to move nearby from N.J. A wide spectrum of industries will do well, including makers of autos and auto parts.

California

Population: 38,802,500

2015 Job growth: 2.8% (forecast)

2016 Job growth: 2.4% (forecast)

New jobs in 2015: 441,100

New jobs in 2016: 385,900

Unemployment rate by year-end 2015: 6.1% (forecast)

Though parched farmlands are curbing agricultural production and state limits on water use are affecting development, high tech and health care are among industries doing well.

See also: Our take on 7 Ways California's Drought Will Affect You.

South Carolina

Population: 4,832,482

2015 Job growth: 2.7% (forecast)

2016 Job growth: 2.8% (forecast)

New jobs in 2015: 53,200

New jobs in 2016: 60,100

Unemployment rate by year-end 2015: 6.5% (forecast)

New plants from Volvo and Boeing will be a big boost for an already solid manufacturing sector, and improvements to the Port of Charleston are bolstering construction and warehousing.

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David Payne is Staff Economist at. Glenn Somerville is its Associate Editor.