How difficult is it to find a decent job in the states for a Canadian citizen?

Depends on whether you are a pediatric neuro-surgeon, a software engineer, or an anthropologist.

What degrees do you hold in which field from which universities where? What post-master's (preferably doctorate) degree experience do you have doing what how well & how long for whom where? Is this a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) occupation?

Over 33 million Americans are currently looking for work. That's more than the entire population of Canada. Real unemployment rate remains above 23%. Another 33+% of US workforce is self-employed, so they don't have jobs either!

STEM? Forget it if you are in engineering. Over 100,000 US engineers have been laid off in the past year.

US is hemorrhaging full-time jobs. Full-time jobs abolished in Q2 (latest quarter): April - 252,000; May - 280,000; June - 349,000. Job openings now are almost all for part-time low pay or temporary jobs. Wage/salary offered for job openings are running about one-quarter of the jobs being abolished.

What qualifications do you have which meet employment visa requirements? Then you have to try to find a qualified employer willing & able to apply for an employment visa for their foreign employee, and actually get the job (out of 100 or more applicants, sometimes over 1000 from all over the world) & get approved for the visa prior to entry to US.

The regulations define a "specialty occupation" as requiring theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge in a field of human endeavor including but not limited to biotechnology, chemistry, architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine and health, education, law, accounting, business specialties, theology, and the arts, and requiring the attainment of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent as a minimum

I hope the weathers in California, Texas or Florida will be agreeable to you.
Are you near Ontario?

"How do you become a permanent resident?"

Apply for an Immigration VISA (that'll take about 30 years)

Or, marry an American (that'll take about 6 months)