Unemployment rates continue to skyrocket in most parts of America. Recent college grads with no ties to any particular location often search for jobs in big cities like Los Angeles, New York City, or Chicago. But are these the places where they’re most likely to land a job?
The answer is no. LA, New York City, and Chicago have some of the highest unemployment rates in the country. If the current job market has you down in the dumps, cheer up! There are some places that are actually hiring, but landing a job these days may require you to relocate. I’ve found several cities around the US that have managed to maintain sizeable job growth and low unemployment rates despite the bleak job market. Find out where you should be looking for your next job.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Unemployment Rate: 4.8%
Average salary: $40,610
Largest employers: The University of Utah, Intermountain Healthcare, and the Utah state government.
Salt Lake city boasts jaw-dropping scenery and is rich in natural resources, including one of the largest copper mines in the world. It is also the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Charleston, West Virginia
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
Average Salary: $43,613
Largest Employers: West Virginia United Health System, Charleston Area Medical Center, and ResCare.
Nicknamed “The Home of Hospitality”, you can’t help but fall in love with West Virginia’s capital and largest city. The city, which prides itself on being “the most northern city of the South and the most southern city of the North”, is highly driven by the healthcare industry.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Unemployment Rate: 3.3%
Average Salary: $45,195
Largest Employers: Hospital Corporation of America, National Passport Center, and Liberty Mutual.
Full of old Victorian houses and nice swimming spots, the quaint little city Portsmouth is a popular tourist destination. It is also home to the beloved Market Square and many historic seaports.
Des Moines, Iowa
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
Average Salary: $34,486
Largest Employers: Principal Financial Group, Des Moines Public Schools, and Iowa Health Systems.
Iowa’s capital city is a major center for the insurance industry. In fact, Des Moines was credited with the “number one spot for U.S. insurance companies” in a Business Wire article. The business-savy city also has a sizable financial and publishing business base.
Midland, Texas
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%
Average Salary: $32,251
Largest Employers: Midland Independent School District, Warren Equipment Companies, and Dawson Geophysical.
Most of Texas’s cities, particularly the good-looking city of Midland, have maintained fairly low unemployment rates despite the recession. Guess what they say is true: you don’t mess with Texas! Midland is nicknamed the “Tall City”, and is known for its downtown skyline.
Arlington, Virginia
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
Average Salary: $62,522
Largest Employers: Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, and the State Department.
Arlington is actually not a city but a county, and is home to the Pentagon and the Arlington National Cemetery. Neighboring America’s capital, it’s no surprise that the federal government is by far the area’s largest employer.
Fargo, North Dakota
Unemployment Rate: 3.7%
Average Salary: $32,008
Largest Employers: Sanford Health Centers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Swanson Health Products.
The cultural, retail, and health care hub of North Dakota, Fargo is also the setting in a very famous Coen Brother’s movie that you may have heard of! The small city’s economy has historically been very dependent on agriculture, but in recent decades the healthcare industry has become dominant.
Seattle, Washington
Unemployment Rate: 5.4%
Average salary: $50,350
Largest Employers: Boeing Manufacturers, Microsoft Corporation, and the University of Washington.
Don’t let the fact that Seattle is one of the US’s ten rainiest cities scare you away! The city’s economy has managed to stay afloat despite the recession. Seattle is boasts an interesting mix of prominent old industrial companies and “new economy” Internet and technology companies.
Edhance Blog - We know students and student discounts 
#1 by Steve on June 9, 2011 - 6:36 pm
Great post! One generally accepted rule is that jobs are more availalbe in conservative states & cities (note most of your examples above). Businesses are often overtaxed in the big, liberal cities, and it’s often difficult or too expensive to expand. Many large companies (like Raytheon and Boeing) are moving their operations from high-tax states like California and moving them to pro-business states like Mississippi. (This isn’t meant to be a political statement, but an economic one).
#2 by Emily Cooper on June 10, 2011 - 11:11 pm
You have a point, Steve. But who wouldn’t want getting a job in one of those big cities? It’s where those big companies are. I know you’d likely spend more but being a part of a big city would be a big deal. You just have to manage your time and finances really well. 🙂
#3 by kristintate on June 11, 2011 - 11:33 am
Hey Emily- Great point, I mean we’d ALL love to work in one of those big cities! The big trouble is actually FINDING a job in those cities. Recent grads flock to NYC and LA and remain jobless for years sometimes because there is simply not a lot of opportunity for employment. Most of these grads have to end up waiting tables or working at a grocery store.
The unemployment rates in nyc and LA in particular are unbelievable. This post was to open peoples’ minds up about other cities in the US where there are a lot more opportunities for employment.
#4 by Irvynn Brunson on June 14, 2011 - 12:50 pm
Who wants to be jobless for the rest of their lives? It’s like saying that I don’t have a life anymore! I’d rather gamble in a place where there is a high opportunity for employment than settle in my own area, in my own house specifically but still broke.