NextChapter

Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Midwest

Lenexa leads the Midwest: 6.9% of its professional openings say no experience is needed, against 0.9% across all cities in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

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Key facts

  • #1 Lenexa, KS: 6.9%
  • #2 Northbrook, IL: 3.5%
  • #3 Sioux Falls, SD: 2.5%
  • 67 cities ranked in the Midwest
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 0.9% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1Lenexa KS6.9%
  2. 2Northbrook IL3.5%
  3. 3Sioux Falls SD2.5%
  4. 4Oak Brook IL2.2%
  5. 5Kansas City KS2.1%
  6. 6Bloomington MN2.0%
  7. 7Rosemont IL1.9%
  8. 8Schaumburg IL1.8%
  9. 9Lisle IL1.7%
  10. 10Mundelein IL1.6%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Lenexa (6.9%) is well clear of Mundelein at #10 (1.6%).
  • Mundelein is the largest market in the top ten, with 247 openings behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Some employers say plainly that no experience is needed, or that they will train people. The share of such openings shows where it is easiest to get started without a track record.

How to use it

If you are starting out or changing fields, apply to postings that say it. The city lists show where they are most common.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Lenexa KS

    6.9%

    No-experience openings
    15
    All openings
    216
    All openings
    216

    Hiring most here: Kiewit Infrastructure South, Kiewit, Kiewit Corporation (Peter Kiewit Sons')

    Based on 216 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Lenexa

  2. 2

    Northbrook IL

    3.5%

    No-experience openings
    6
    All openings
    171
    All openings
    171

    Hiring most here: UL Solutions, Astellas (ADP), Medline Industries

    Based on 171 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Northbrook

  3. 3

    Sioux Falls SD

    2.5%

    No-experience openings
    5
    All openings
    201
    All openings
    201

    Hiring most here: Sioux Center Health, Marshfield Clinic, Trinzic

    Based on 201 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Sioux Falls

  4. 4

    Oak Brook IL

    2.2%

    No-experience openings
    3
    All openings
    138
    All openings
    138

    Hiring most here: Hub Group, Sotera Health

    Based on 138 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Oak Brook

  5. 5

    Kansas City KS

    2.1%

    No-experience openings
    3
    All openings
    144
    All openings
    144

    Hiring most here: Dairy Farmers of America, Amazon, Kansas City Kansas Community College

    Based on 144 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Kansas City

  6. 6

    Bloomington MN

    2.0%

    No-experience openings
    4
    All openings
    202
    All openings
    202

    Hiring most here: HealthPartners, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Geronimo Power

    Based on 202 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Bloomington

  7. 7

    Rosemont IL

    1.9%

    No-experience openings
    2
    All openings
    104
    All openings
    104

    Hiring most here: Reyes Holdings, US Foods, Regal Rexnord

    Based on 104 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Rosemont

  8. 8

    Schaumburg IL

    1.8%

    No-experience openings
    4
    All openings
    218
    All openings
    218

    Hiring most here: Motorola Solutions, Fictiv, Zurich

    Based on 218 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Schaumburg

  9. 9

    Lisle IL

    1.7%

    No-experience openings
    2
    All openings
    117
    All openings
    117

    Hiring most here: International Institute For Sustainable Development, Navistar, Brindley Engineering

    Based on 117 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Lisle

  10. 10

    Mundelein IL

    1.6%

    No-experience openings
    4
    All openings
    247
    All openings
    247

    Hiring most here: Coda Search│Staffing

    Based on 247 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Mundelein

  11. 11

    Omaha NE

    1.5%

    No-experience openings
    8
    All openings
    545
    All openings
    545

    Hiring most here: Conagra Brands, Valmont, Zachry

    Based on 545 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Omaha

  12. 12

    Overland Park KS

    1.3%

    No-experience openings
    6
    All openings
    446
    All openings
    446

    Hiring most here: Black & Veatch, Steadily, QTS Data Centers

    Based on 446 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Overland Park

  13. 13

    Indianapolis IN

    1.3%

    No-experience openings
    19
    All openings
    1,422
    All openings
    1,422

    Hiring most here: Eli Lilly and Company, State of Indiana, Masco

    Based on 1,422 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Indianapolis

  14. 14

    Milwaukee WI

    1.3%

    No-experience openings
    11
    All openings
    827
    All openings
    827

    Hiring most here: Michels, Rockwell Automation, Johnson Controls International

    Based on 827 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Milwaukee

  15. 15

    Akron OH

    1.3%

    No-experience openings
    4
    All openings
    308
    All openings
    308

    Hiring most here: FirstEnergy Akron, Babcock International Group PLC/ADR, Akron Childrens Hospital

    Based on 308 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Akron

  16. 16

    Cedar Rapids IA

    1.1%

    No-experience openings
    4
    All openings
    350
    All openings
    350

    Hiring most here: RTX, Transamerica, BAE Systems

    Based on 350 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cedar Rapids

  17. 17

    Detroit MI

    1.1%

    No-experience openings
    8
    All openings
    734
    All openings
    734

    Hiring most here: Wayne State University, Henry Ford Health System, Accident Fund

    Based on 734 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Detroit

  18. 18

    Springfield MO

    1.0%

    No-experience openings
    2
    All openings
    193
    All openings
    193

    Hiring most here: O'Reilly Auto Parts, Coxhealth, Jack Henry & Associates

    Based on 193 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Springfield

  19. 19

    Madison WI

    1.0%

    No-experience openings
    5
    All openings
    508
    All openings
    508

    Hiring most here: Universities of Wisconsin [UW_Madison], Creative Financial Staffing, Catalent Pharma Solutions

    Based on 508 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Madison

  20. 20

    Lincoln NE

    1.0%

    No-experience openings
    2
    All openings
    204
    All openings
    204

    Hiring most here: Nelnet Servicing, General Dynamics OTS, Hudl

    Based on 204 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Lincoln

  21. 21

    St. Louis MO

    0.9%

    No-experience openings
    5
    All openings
    537
    All openings
    537

    Hiring most here: Stifel Charitable, BJC HealthCare, Kforce

    Based on 537 openings.

    Jobs and employers in St. Louis

  22. 22

    Waukesha WI

    0.9%

    No-experience openings
    1
    All openings
    108
    All openings
    108

    Hiring most here: GE HealthCare Technologies, Eaton, GE HealthCare

    Based on 108 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Waukesha

  23. 23

    Topeka KS

    0.9%

    No-experience openings
    1
    All openings
    111
    All openings
    111

    Hiring most here: Stormont Vail, Colgate Palmolive

    Based on 111 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Topeka

  24. 24

    La Crosse WI

    0.9%

    No-experience openings
    1
    All openings
    117
    All openings
    117

    Hiring most here: Trane U.s., Gundersen Health, Kwik Trip

    Based on 117 openings.

    Jobs and employers in La Crosse

  25. 25

    Evansville IN

    0.8%

    No-experience openings
    1
    All openings
    119
    All openings
    119

    Hiring most here: Deaconess Homecare, Old National Bank, Deaconess Womens Hospital Of Southern Indiana

    Based on 119 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Evansville

Full ranking

All 67 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Lenexa KS6.9%216
2Northbrook IL3.5%171
3Sioux Falls SD2.5%201
4Oak Brook IL2.2%138
5Kansas City KS2.1%144
6Bloomington MN2.0%202
7Rosemont IL1.9%104
8Schaumburg IL1.8%218
9Lisle IL1.7%117
10Mundelein IL1.6%247
11Omaha NE1.5%545
12Overland Park KS1.3%446
13Indianapolis IN1.3%1,422
14Milwaukee WI1.3%827
15Akron OH1.3%308
16Cedar Rapids IA1.1%350
17Detroit MI1.1%734
18Springfield MO1.0%193
19Madison WI1.0%508
20Lincoln NE1.0%204
21St. Louis MO0.9%537
22Waukesha WI0.9%108
23Topeka KS0.9%111
24La Crosse WI0.9%117
25Evansville IN0.8%119
26Cincinnati OH0.8%1,379
27Aurora IL0.8%126
28Cleveland OH0.8%891
29Columbia MO0.8%130
30Green Bay WI0.7%136
31Carmel IN0.7%139
32Rockford IL0.7%140
33Chicago IL0.7%7,607
34Kansas City MO0.7%879
35Mason OH0.7%148
36Novi MI0.7%148
37New Albany OH0.7%149
38Minneapolis MN0.6%1,276
39Toledo OH0.6%180
40Naperville IL0.5%191
41St. Paul MN0.5%194
42St. Louis MO0.5%401
43Columbus OH0.5%1,892
44Grand Rapids MI0.5%424
45Fort Wayne IN0.4%276
46Springfield IL0.4%283
47Eden Prairie MN0.3%321
48Ann Arbor MI0.3%350
49Dayton OH0.0%432
50Des Moines IA0.0%369
51Rolling Meadows IL0.0%281
52Troy MI0.0%249
53Southfield MI0.0%230
54Wichita KS0.0%229
55Lansing MI0.0%212
56Rochester MN0.0%183
57Fargo ND0.0%168
58Peoria IL0.0%157
59Appleton WI0.0%150
60Auburn Hills MI0.0%149
61Oakbrook Terrace IL0.0%142
62Downers Grove IL0.0%141
63Dublin OH0.0%128
64Jeffersonville IN0.0%114
65Jefferson City MO0.0%107
66Minnetonka MN0.0%107
67Evanston IL0.0%104

How this ranking works

A city's score is the share of its open professional roles whose posting says no experience is needed, or welcomes recent graduates or people the employer will train.

Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. A city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.

Sample bar: cities with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles on employer career sites, verified in the last week. Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which city ranks first: cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the midwest?
Lenexa leads the Midwest: 6.9% of its professional openings say no experience is needed, against 0.9% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
67 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 67 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the share of its open professional roles whose posting says no experience is needed, or welcomes recent graduates or people the employer will train. Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. A city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Midwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-with-the-most-no-experience-jobs-in-the-midwest

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-with-the-most-no-experience-jobs-in-the-midwest">Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Midwest (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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