25 worst places to find a job
If moving to El Centro, Calif., or Yuma, Ariz., is high on your list of things to do, you might want to make some rewrites to your list. These two cities recorded unemployment rates of 23 and 20 percent, respectively, considerably higher than the latest national average of 6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, California cities registered the highest unemployment rates across the board compared to the rest of the country in July 2008.
Unemployment rates were higher in 338 of the 369 U.S. metropolitan areas surveyed, which means 92 percent of cities have seen an increase in their unemployment rates. Only 25 areas reported lower rates, while six areas had no change. The national unemployment rate in July, 6 percent, was up 1.1 percent from 4.9 percent last year.
Eleven cities recorded jobless rates of at least 10 percent and nine areas registered rates below 3 percent. Ninety metropolitan areas posted unemployment rates of at least 7 percent, up from only 29 areas in July 2007. Only 40 cities had jobless rates below 4 percent, down from 91 areas at the same time last year. In total, 153 cities had an unemployment rate higher than the average, 205 areas had rates below it and 11 areas had the same rate.
Here are 25 cities with the highest unemployment rates, how they stacked up compared to last year's statistics and their expected job growth, according to the BLS.
Unemployment rate: 26.2 percent*
Last year: 20.7 percent**
Job growth: N/A***
2. Yuma, Ariz.
Unemployment rate: 20 percent
Last year: 19.1 percent
Job growth: 0.2 percent
3. Flint, Mich.
Unemployment rate: 12.3 percent
Last year: 9.7 percent
Job growth: -5.9 percent
Unemployment rate: 11.9 percent
Last year: 9.9 percent
Job growth: 1.2 percent
5. Yuba City, Calif.
Unemployment rate: 11.9 percent
Last year: 9 percent
Job growth: N/A
Unemployment rate: 11.3 percent
Last year: 8.8 percent
Job growth: -1.9 percent
Unemployment rate: 11 percent
Last year: 8.9 percent
Job growth: 0.3 percent
Unemployment rate: 10.8 percent
Last year: 8.4 percent
Job growth: N/A
Unemployment rate: 10.7 percent
Last year: 7.1 percent
Job growth: -0.8 percent
10. Stockton, Calif.
Unemployment rate: 10.5 percent
Last year: 8.4 percent
Job growth: 0.4 percent
11. Fresno, Calif.
Unemployment rate: 10.1 percent
Last year: 8.3 percent
Job growth: -0.1 percent
Unemployment rate: 9.9 percent
Last year: 8.1 percent
Job growth: 1.6 percent
13. Hanford, Calif.
Unemployment rate: 9.9 percent
Last year: 8.1 percent
Job growth: N/A
14. Redding, Calif.
Unemployment rate: 9.9 percent
Last year: 7.5 percent
Job growth: -0.3 percent
15. Muskegon, Mich.
Unemployment rate: 9.9 percent
Last year: 8.1 percent
Job growth: -0.3 percent
16. Jackson, Mich.
Unemployment rate: 9.7 percent
Last year: 8.3 percent
Job growth: -1.6 percent
Unemployment rate: 9.6 percent
Last year: 6.6 percent
Population: 1.6 percent
18. Saginaw, Mich.
Unemployment rate: 9.5 percent
Last year: 8.1 percent
Job growth: -2.8 percent
19. Madera, Calif.
Unemployment rate: 9.4 percent
Last year: 7.5 percent
Job growth: N/A
20. Detroit
Unemployment rate: 9.4 percent
Last year: 8.6 percent
Job growth: N/A
21. Elkhart, Ind.
Unemployment rate: 9.4 percent
Last year: 4.5 percent
Job growth: -3.6 percent
22. Sebastian, Fla.
Unemployment rate: 9.4 percent
Last year: 6.9 percent
Job growth: N/A
23. Kokomo, Ind.
Unemployment rate: 9.2 percent
Last year: 4.8 percent
Job growth: N/A
24. Rockford, Ill.
Unemployment rate: 9.0 percent
Last year: 6.1 percent
Job growth: 0.0 percent
25. Niles, Mich.
Unemployment rate: 9.0 percent
Last year: 7.3 percent
Job growth: 0.5 percent
*Unemployment rate for July 2008, according to the BLS.
** Unemployment rate for July 2007, according to the BLS.
*** Job growth based on numbers from April 2008.
Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
source: http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-1023-Job-Search-25-Worst-Places-to-Find-a-Job/
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