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 Are you convinced that you live in the worst city for employment? Does it seem impossible for you to find a job in your area? Well, here’s some good news – maybe you’re not the problem. If you want to know the worst city for employment, it really depends who you ask. The answer changes based on how you define “worst” – is it the city with the highest unemployment rate, the lowest projected job growth, or the highest cost of living in combination with the lowest average salary? Forbes has ranked the 100 largest cities based on median income, unemployment rate, income growth, cost of living and job growth. According to this list, the best city for employment is Salt Lake City, UT, and the worst city for employment is Detroit, MI.
10 Best Cities for Employment:
Current Employment Opportunities
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Wichita, KS
- Austin, TX
- Atlanta, GA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Houston, TX
- Omaha, NE
- Raleigh, NC
- Seattle, WA
10 Worst Cities for Employment:
- Detroit, MI
- Fresno, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Stockton, CA
- Youngstown, OH
- Bakersfield, CA
- Warren, MI
- Buffalo, NY
- Providence, RI
- Toledo, OH
For the complete list, visit the Forbes “Best Cities for Jobs in 2008″ article.
If you are looking for more specific information on the best and worst cities for employment, Forbes has also ranked the top 200 major metropolitan areas in terms of job growth. In addition to job growth, you may also want to isolate unemployment rates when determining the worst city for employment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides information on unemployment rates in metropolitan areas, giving you yet another perspective on the best and worst city for employment.
Best Cities for Employment: The best city for employment in terms of job growth is Cape Coral, FL. When looking at unemployment rates, the best city for jobs is Logan, UT, with an unemployment rate of only 2.2 percent.
- Metropolitan Cities with Highest Job Growth
- Metropolitan Areas with the Lowest Unemployment Rate
- Logan, UT (2.2 percent)
- Idaho Falls, ID (2.3 percent)
- Sioux Falls, SD (2.3 percent)
- Iowa City, IA (2.4 percent)
- Midland, TX (2.4 percent)
- Ames, IA (2.5 percent)
- Casper, WY (2.5 percent)
- Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA (2.5 percent)
- Huntsville, AL (2.5 percent)
- Rapid City, SD (2.5 percent)
Worst Cities for Employment: Based on job growth, the worst city for employment is New Orleans, LA. In terms of unemployment rate, the worst city for employment is El Centro, CA, with an unemployment rate of 18.4 percent (keep in mind that the U.S. average is 4.8 percent).
- Metropolitan Cities with the Lowest Job Growth
- New Orleans, LA
- Detroit, MI
- Flint, MI
- Canton, OH
- Warren, MI
- Hickory, NC
- Lansing, MI
- Dayton, OH
- Youngstown, OH
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Metropolitan Areas with the Highest Unemployment Rate
- El Centro, CA (18.4 percent)
- Merced, CA (12.3 percent)
- Yuba City, CA (11.8 percent)
- Yuma, AZ (11.2 percent)
- Modesto, CA (10.7 percent)
- Visalia-Porterville, CA (10.3 percent)
- Hanford-Corcoran, CA (10.2 percent)
- Fresno, CA (10.0 percent)
- Bakersfield, CA (9.7 percent)
- Stockton, CA (9.6 percent)
- Madera, CA (9.6 percent)
When determining the worst city for employment, you may also want to factor in other issues related to what it would be like living in each city. For example, a city may have a very low unemployment rate, but if it also has extremely high housing costs you may not consider it to be all that great. Here are the best and worst cities for employment based on income growth, housing costs, and crime rates, as state by Forbes “200 Best Places for Business and Careers”.
- Income Growth
- The Best: Hagerstown, MD; Mercer County, NJ; Portland, ME; Seattle, WA; Fort Collins, CO
- The Worst: Shreveport, LA; Greenville, SC; Spartanburg, SC; Mobile, AL; Montgomery, AL
- Housing Costs
- The Best: Huntington, WV; Peoria, IL; Erie, PA; Buffalo, NY; Fort Wayne, IN
- The Worst: San Jose, CA; Santa Ana, CA; San Francisco, CA; Santa Cruz, CA; Oakland, CA
- Crime Rates
- The Best: Rockingham County, NH; Edison, NJ; Cambridge, MA; Poughkeepsie, NY; Holland, MI
- The Worst: Myrtle Beach, SC; Memphis, TN; Little Rock, AR; Corpus Christi, TX; Stockton, CA
For complete lists, see the article here.
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I recently got fired from my last job. I was only there for 5 months. I would love to be able to lea 
my mother is a headstart teacher and during the summer she has to drwn her unemployment.headstart is 
15 jobs in 3 years?? How did you get job #10 - #15??? I have had three jobs in five years and most r
12 Responses for "Worst City for Employment"
Right now, the best jobs will be where the stimulus money is going. Places like Wyoming or D.C will get that money. Follow the stimulus money.
Thanks, Ace. That makes sense for sure.
I think SC is the worst state of unemployment,and highest on child support and accidents. The crimes is getting worst but in some areas you can leave you door open.
Im not sure when this was last updated… Ocala, FL is one of the worst. it falls at 12.2 percent at the moment. Just letting you know.
I thought it was Florida with the gorgeous homes, non-unions, high taxes and no jobs.
I can now breath easier.
Panama City, Panama City Beach FL is not good for finding employment either I did get a job with Wackenhut it’s a job in the heat 12 hours a day I’ve been on foot patrol and it sucks I’m looking for something else already
I think Cape Coral FL is the worst for jobs not the best. I have went to 2 job fairs and spent 3-4 hours at each place waiting in line of 500+ who are all unemployed and looking for work. I have been looking for almost a year and I have 3 vocational certificates and over 15 years in the work force but I can not even get hired at 7=11. I am a single mom with no income except unemployment that runs out next month. I would really like to know where the jobs are.
You have to be willing to work for less than minimum wage, have you been on a group interview yet were they statrt pitting you against each other whos the hungriest
Dear Sheri~
I was sorry to read about your job hunting concerns. Please forgive me if this steps over the line, but you did ask for help. Perhaps one reason you are not being offered a job is because of your blatently improper use of the English language. Although there was more than one error in your letter the one that sticks out like a Neon sign in a black hole is your sentence…”I have went to 2 job fairs…” As an employer I would never hire anyone who would come in contact with my paying public/clients who did not know the difference between “I have went” and “I have gone” This grammar area is one you can address and correct at no cost to you and I believe it will greatly improve your chances. Good luck! GR
They sure arent’ in Charlotte, NC. If you would like to work a call center job then Charlotte is the place for you, but if you abhor sitting in the same place for hours with a headset on your head listening to people complain, this might not be the place for you
Rochester, NY is the worst. The only work available is for one of the five colleges, food or 2 call centers.
Carla-
You shouldn’t criticize Sheri’s grammar, being that yours could use some work as well (not to mention your spelling and improper punctuation). I highly doubt the good people at 7-Eleven are hiring people based on their writing skills. Keep trying, Sheri.
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