Lightcast’s Talent Growth Index scores companies on a 0-100 scale where 100 signals top performing companies and 0 signals worst performing companies in the state within that 3-digit industry. There are three categories that comprise the Talent Growth Index: company postings, industry trends, and regional trends. The industry and regional trends compare change compared to the previous year. Company postings identify the most recent month of postings to the company’s 6 month rolling average.

This scoring was developed using a statistical model looking at 18 years of data to understand what metrics matter to company growth and how much each metric should be weighted. The model is both regionalized and unique to each industry. For instance an aerospace company in Washington will be scored differently than a aerospace company in Maryland. Similarly an aerospace company in Washington will be scored differently than a finance company in Washington.