Best (and Worst) Cities to Find a Job

Best (and Worst) Cities to Find a JobBest (and Worst) Cities to Find a JobTheunemployment ratefor the country as a whole is at record post-recession lows, coming in under 4 percent in recent months. But that doesnt mean that its easy to find a job. Several factors affecthow quickly you can get hiredafter deciding to make a job change (or having it decided for you, in the gestalt of alayoffortermination). Education, experience and occupational outlook all affect your personal job outlook. But dont count out the importance of being in the right geographical place at the right time. Some U.S. cities are better than others when it comes to finding a job. The same is true for U.S. states - some have much better job prospects than others. A report from WalletHub ranked thebest and worst citiesfor getting hired in the coming year. The site looked at more than 180 cities in the U.S., evaluating them according to26 different metrics, including job opportunities, employment growth, and median salary. These are the best and worst cities to find a job right now 5 Best Cities to Find a Job 1.Chandler, AZChandler boasts the highest growth rate amongst cities and a well-educated workforce with nearly 75 percent of adult residents having attended college.40 percent of Chandlers adult residents possess a bachelors or advanced degree. Chandler residents earn among the highest wages in the Greater Phoenix area with an estimated median household income of $75,633. Popular EmployersIntel, PayPal, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Microchip Technology How Much You Can EarnChandler Average Salary 2.Scottsdale, AZGood weather year round makes Scottsdale a popular tourist destination, so its no surprise that Scottsdale boasts a healthy tourism industry, including destination spas and booming nightlife. Popular EmployersThe Vanguard Group,CVS Caremark Corporation,General Dynamics How Much You Can EarnScottsdale Average Salary 3.San Francisco, CAThe epicenter of the tech industry in t he U.S., San Francisco boasts some of the highest paying jobs - and highest cost of living - in the country. Popular EmployersSalesforce.com Inc.,Google Inc.,The Gap Inc.How Much You Can EarnSan Francisco Average Salary 4.Peoria, AZPeoria was tied with Chandler for the highest employment growth amongst cities. The city sees its future growth in advanced business services, manufacturing, bioscience, health care, and scientific and technical services. Popular Employers Peoria Unified School District, City of Peoria, The Antigua Group How Much You Can EarnPeoria Average Salary 5.Plano, TXPlano has headquarters for several major corporations, including Bank of America Home Loans, Frito-Lay, and FedEx Office. About 80 percent of the citys visitors are business travelers. Popular EmployersEricsson Inc.,Capital One Financial Group,PepsiCo Inc. How Much You Can EarnPlano Average Salary 5 Worst Cities to Find a Job 1. Shreveport, LAShreveport received the lowest Job Market rank in the WalletHub analysis and the most recent unemployment rate for the area was 5.2%, well above the national average. The city also placed near the bottom in socio-economic factors including educational level and average income. Popular Employers Benteler, Willis-Knighton Medical Center, U.S Airforce How Much You Can Earn Shreveport Average Salary 2.Detroit, MIThe murl City has had more than its share of economic trouble in the past few decades, thanks to thedecline within the manufacturing sector. Popular EmployersGeneral Motors Corporation,Quicken Loans,Ford Motor CompanyHow Much You Can EarnDetroit Average Salary 3.Newark, NJThe manufacturing decline hit Newark hard in 2016,Forbesreported that the city had lost 10 percent of manufacturing employment since 2010. Popular EmployersPrudential,Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield,New Jersey Institute of Technology How Much You Can EarnNewark Average Salary 4. Columbus, GeorgiaUnemployment in Columbus still averaged about 4.4%, well above the national rate. Household income significantly lagged national averages. Popular Employers Total Systems Services, AFLAC, U.S Army How Much You Can Earn Columbus Average Salary 5. New Orleans, LAUnemployment in New Orleans is higher than the national average and WalletHub designated it as having the second lowest employment growth.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics average weekly wages amounted to only $933. Popular Employers Entergy Corporation, Ochsner Medical Center,Tulane University How Much You Can Earn New Orleans Average Salary Consider Your Industry When Making a Move The best cities for all jobs arent necessarily the best cities for your specific occupation. If youre contemplating a move to seek better opportunities, it pays to understand the market in your field. Its clear that opportunity is available in major cities across the country, says Sam Radbil, Sr. Communications Manager atABODO. Whether youre a Millennial looking for your first job after college, or a Baby Boomer starting a new career, its important to know where to look for the fastest growing jobs in your industry and in your city. From social services to health care, jobs are available if youre looking in the right places. And if youre simply a person looking for a fresh start in a new city, this information could be extremely helpful in your search for your next home. Radbil says that ABODOs data show that workers in the public relationsand communications sector would do well to focus their searches in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., or Seattle. Those outside the PR industry might want to consider them as well, since many crop up on other lists of great places to find work. Of course, these cities also top lists of most expensive places to live.Cost-of-living, as well as opportunity, has to factor into any workers choice of where to move next. Bottom linelook for an opportunity for your industry, and weigh that against cost-of-living in each location , to make the best choice for your next move.