15 great cities for Job Seekers - See #13

[Beachlover2]

15 Great Cities for Job Seekers
Meg Donohue, CareerBuilder.com writer
The harsh truth of job hunting is that in some cities, no matter how hard you look, there just aren't enough jobs to go around. Since a low unemployment rate is an indication of a city with a proportionate number of jobs for its population, it stands to reason that cities with minimal unemployment rates represent promising economic environments for job seekers.

The 15 cities in this list have unemployment rates well below the national average (4.5 percent in November 2006, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). To create a comprehensive portrait of the employment conditions of each area, we've also included the mean annual wage as well as the most prevalent local industries and occupations. Local chamber of commerce and tourism Web sites are additional resources for job seekers interested in learning more about a specific location.

1. Fargo, N.D.
Unemployment rate: 1.5 percent *
Mean annual wage: $32,580*
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (22.8 percent)**
Predominant occupation: 33.4 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations**

2. Bismarck, N.D.
Unemployment rate: 1.9 percent
Mean annual wage: $31,580
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (32.7 percent)
Predominant occupation: 38.2 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

3. Logan, Utah
Unemployment rate: 2.2 percent
Mean annual wage: $29,520
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (29.1 percent)
Predominant occupation: 32.7 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

4. St. George, Utah
Unemployment rate: 2.2 percent
Mean annual wage: $29,770
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (18.1 percent)
Predominant occupation: 29.2 percent of workers are employed in sales and office occupations

5. Ames, Iowa
Unemployment rate: 2.3 percent
Mean annual wage: $36,050
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (39.1 percent)
Predominant occupation: 47.3 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

6. Idaho Falls, Idaho
Unemployment rate: 2.3 percent
Mean annual wage: $32,970
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste management services (19 percent)
Predominant occupation: 37.9 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

7. Billings, Mont.
Unemployment rate: 2.4 percent
Mean annual wage: $31,290
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (21.4 percent)
Predominant occupation: 31.9 percent of workers are employed in sales and office occupations

8. Charlottesville, Va.
Unemployment rate: 2.4 percent
Mean annual wage: $38,490
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (39.3 percent)
Predominant occupation: 44 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

9. Iowa City, Iowa
Unemployment rate: 2.4 percent
Mean annual wage: $32,530
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (44.3 percent)
Predominant occupation: 43.6 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

10. Provo-Orem, Utah
Unemployment rate: 2.4 percent
Mean annual wage: $38,490
Industry with largest percentage of workforce (Provo): Educational, health and social services (32.7 percent)
Predominant occupation (Provo): 38.3 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

11. Sioux City, I.A.
Unemployment rate: 2.4 percent
Mean annual wage: $31,340
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (19.8 percent)
Predominant occupation: 33.2 percent of workers are employed in sales and office occupations

12. Boise City-Nampa, Idaho
Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
Mean annual wage: $35,330
Industry with largest percentage of workforce (Boise City): Educational, health and social services (17.8 percent)
Predominant occupation (Boise City): 38.8 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

13. Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, Fla.
Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
Mean annual wage: $32,430
Industry with largest percentage of workforce (Fort Walton Beach): Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (15.7 percent)
Predominant occupation (Fort Walton Beach): 30.3 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

14. Huntsville, Ala.
Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
Mean annual wage: $39,540
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (19.7 percent)
Predominant occupation: 44.3 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

15. Lincoln, Neb.
Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
Mean annual wage: $34,020
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (24 percent)
Predominant occupation: 36 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

* Unemployment rates and annual wages obtained from BLS in September 2006.
** Industry percentages and predominant occupations obtained from 2000 census.

Meg Donohue is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Copyright 2006 Careerbuilder.com.

[Paula]

Useful information, Beachlover2. Thanks for posting it. I wish Panama City was on that list as well, but perhaps in the future with the new airport that may bring some new businesses to the Panhandle.

[kathydwells]

#14. My hometown, where I am sitting today.

[30A Skunkape]

Oh damn, how did I forget about Fargo? How good must a job be to be condemned to eating Applebees in the cold for the rest of your natural existence?

[Miss Kitty]

Oh damn, how did I forget about Fargo? How good must a job be to be condemned to eating Applebees in the cold for the rest of your natural existence?

It's never too late...too cold maybe, but never too late.

[SHELLY]

Oh damn, how did I forget about Fargo? How good must a job be to be condemned to eating Applebees in the cold for the rest of your natural existence?

According to the article (#13), it appears to be about $32,440 per year (before taxes)--of course you'll be WORKING at Applebees. As long as you don't plan on owning a home, you'll be A-OK.


.

[beachmouse]

FWB is a weird job market. Lots of service industry and sales jobs, and some very good and high paying tech sector jobs if you're tied into the whole DoD Blowing Stuff Up infrastructure. And you've got the usual health care jobs. But the white collar job market is really lousy, both in the number of positions available, and the pay, and consequently the underemployment is such that a lot of fairly well educated people wait tables because a smart and tidy person can make better money doing that than they can in the usual white collar jobs.

[Paula]

Regarding jobs and career/life choices ("what's a good job and what's a good life"), I had a very good friend who had a Ph.D. in education and around age 35 he decided he really wanted to be at the beach so he became a life guard at Siesta Key and Saugatuck Michigan. He was married (his wife, a masters degree in Education) waited tables. They had two children. He was a very happy man, as was his wife and family -- I'm sure with normal problems and worries. They didn't have a windfall of cash/savings when they made the decision to change their lives. They downsized their life so they could afford it and they lived very well in my opinion. He died of brain cancer when he was in his mid 40's, so he was fortunate to have spent his life doing and living as he loved and in places he loved. His family is doing well and his son (my Godson) is going to law school.

It's a bit of a "romantic" story. Personally, I worry a bit more about financial security than they did so I would have been more cautious about that move, but it worked beautifully for them and thank goodness they made that choice given that the phrase "life is short" was sadly too true for him.

My point is that when we think about job markets, jobs, etc., to remember that there are many ways to have fulfilling jobs/lives/etc. We tend to get stuck in thinking "this or that is a good job/income" when there are many ways to craft a life.

[DD]

Regarding jobs and career/life choices ("what's a good job and what's a good life"), I had a very good friend who had a Ph.D. in education and around age 35 he decided he really wanted to be at the beach so he became a life guard at Siesta Key and Saugatuck Michigan. He was married (his wife, a masters degree in Education) waited tables. They had two children. He was a very happy man, as was his wife and family -- I'm sure with normal problems and worries. They didn't have a windfall of cash/savings when they made the decision to change their lives. They downsized their life so they could afford it and they lived very well in my opinion. He died of brain cancer when he was in his mid 40's, so he was fortunate to have spent his life doing and living as he loved and in places he loved. His family is doing well and his son (my Godson) is going to law school.

It's a bit of a "romantic" story. Personally, I worry a bit more about financial security than they did so I would have been more cautious about that move, but it worked beautifully for them and thank goodness they made that choice given that the phrase "life is short" was sadly too true for him.

My point is that when we think about job markets, jobs, etc., to remember that there are many ways to have fulfilling jobs/lives/etc. We tend to get stuck in thinking "this or that is a good job/income" when there are many ways to craft a life.

Well said, Paula. Sorry about your friend, but it sounds like he lived life to the fullest.

[Panhandler]

According to the article (#13), it appears to be about $32,440 per year (before taxes)--of course you'll be WORKING at Applebees. As long as you don't plan on owning a home, you'll be A-OK.
.

True. it doesn't look like they factor living expenses into the equation, or exactly what kind of work is so plentiful. I'm sure I could find a new job for every day of the week down here but would it be desirable? Doubtful. This list is pointless.

[Paula]

Thanks, DD. He did lead a full life and his children certainly hold onto the values their parents taught them. They are very kind, do what they love and are fully committed to it, believe in making a contribution through their work, and live a good life as well. And they all live in places not too far from the ocean!

[Rita]

Paula,
That was a very nice and thoughtful story to start my "message board reading" with today! Thanks.