Where to get the best employee benefits across the US

As graduates look to jump-start their careers this summer, they may want to pay extra attention to where their potential employer is located and what benefits they offer.

Forage, a software company that helps students prepare for the job hunt through simulations, ranked nine U.S. regions based on how many workers have access to benefits like healthcare, retirement and leave, as well as less common benefits like child care assistance, student loan repayment and wellness programs. Each region was scored out of 100 points, with the highest score of 67 points going to the East North Central region, which is home to states like Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. 

While job seekers typically prioritize compensation when searching for roles, Forage's ranking could serve as a reminder not to underestimate the importance of benefits when looking at their total compensation package, explains Jenna Bellassai, lead data reporter at Forage.

Read more: Employers know their mental health benefits aren't cutting it

"Job seekers should remember to prioritize benefits offerings alongside compensation as they're considering job offers," she says. "Think about what they need for work-life balance and seek out employers that prioritize that in their benefits offerings."

Notably, less traditional benefits like child care and student loan assistance had low access rates of 11% and 4% respectively nationwide — if those benefits are important to the job seeker, candidates should give offers including them special consideration, no matter their location, notes Bellassai. 

Here are the U.S. regions with the best and worst access to benefits, according to Forage.