Finding a good job can depend a lot on where you live. Some US cities have fewer or less-stable job opportunities. This article looks at 25 cities that stand out as the hardest places to find a good job opportunity.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark suffers from high crime and unemployment rates. The city needs help to retain businesses and jobs. Recent infrastructure projects provide some construction work. However, many residents need more required skills due to low education rates.
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino struggles with high unemployment and crime. Lack of public transit makes commuting to jobs difficult. The city needs to attract significant employers besides warehouses.
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta’s economy depends on Masters Tournament and service industry jobs. Lack of development and infrastructure investment hinders growth. Most jobs are low-paying and don’t require a college degree.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis depends on low-paying logistics and tourism occupations. People in Memphis have high dropout rates which affects their skill levels. The city also deals with high crime rates, which deters new businesses.
Columbus, Georgia
Fort Benning drives Columbus’s economy with military and university jobs. However, wages remain low, and unemployment is still high. Government and education jobs are vulnerable to cutbacks.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge’s economy depends on volatile petrochemical jobs. Unemployment remains above the national average. Loss of government jobs during the pandemic hurts. The workforce needs to gain tech skills for new industries.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is still recovering from auto industry declines and bankruptcy. Revitalization centered in downtown neighborhoods still struggles. The workforce then needs more tech skills for growing industries. Public transit issues make commuting difficult.
North Las Vegas, Nevada
The 2008 housing crash heavily impacted North Las Vegas. The construction industry remains weak. The city is recovering its population and tax base after over a decade. Service and retail jobs dominate the economy.
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson’s economy declined for decades after manufacturing and white flight. The city has a high crime rate which affects the job opportunities. Due to the poor public education system, the workforce must gain the required skills.
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville depends on vulnerable Fort Bragg military base jobs. Unemployment is typically higher than the national average. The city attempts to attract new industries; however, many jobs need higher pay.
Long Beach, California
Long Beach’s trade and tourism-dependent economy leads to lower-paying jobs. The city is recovering slowly from the housing crash and recession impacts. Lacking competitive college graduation rates affects workforce skills.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis’s economy is overly reliant on the fragile manufacturing sector. Brain drain leads educated young residents to leave the city. The city diversifies slowly with growth in technology and life sciences.
