# 30 Best Markets to Find a Job
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/30-best-markets-to-find-a-job/66149
**Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic
**Created:** [April 14, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/30-best-markets-to-find-a-job/66149 "2009-04-14T13:31:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jared](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jared)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/30-best-markets-to-find-a-job/66149/1 "2009-04-14T13:31:26Z")
**Job seekers with no ties to any particular location often seek jobs in big cities like** [**New York**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/new+york/new+york/) **,** [**Chicago**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/illinois/chicago/) **,** [**Los Angeles**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/california/los+angeles) **or** [**San Francisco**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/california/san+francisco) **. But are these the places where they’re most likely to find a job?**
**Not according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job seekers are better off looking in such cities as** [**Sioux Falls, S.D.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/south+dakota/sioux+falls) **,** [**Idaho Falls, Idaho**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/idaho/idaho+falls) **, and** [**Rapid City, S.D.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/south-dakota/rapid+city) **All of these cities registered some of the lowest unemployment rates in September 2008.**
**Low unemployment rates seem harder to come by in today’s economy. Unemployment rates were higher in 349 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 September, 6 percent, was up 1.5 percent from 4.5 in September 2007.**
**Ten cities recorded jobless rates of at least 10 percent and nine areas registered rates below 3 percent. Eighty-four metropolitan areas posted unemployment rates of at least 7 percent, up from only 17 areas the year before. Only 46 cities had jobless rates below 4 percent, down from 133 areas at the same time last year. In total, Among the 310 metropolitan areas for which nonfarm payroll data were available in September 2008, 140 areas reported over-the-year employment gains, 164 reported losses, and 6 had no change.**
**Despite these startling figures, several cities have low unemployment rates. Here are 30 cities (and their Metropolitan Statistical Areas) with the _lowest unemployment rates_, according to the September numbers released by the BLS.\***
**1.** [**Bismarck, N.D.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/north-dakota/Bismarck/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 2.5
**2.** [**Casper, Wyo.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Wyoming/Casper/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 2.5
**3.** [**Logan, Utah**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/utah/Logan/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 2.5
**4.** [**Sioux Falls, S.D.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/south-dakota/Sioux%20Falls/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 2.5
**5.** [**Morgantown, W. Va.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/West%20Virginia/Morgantown/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 2.6
**6.** [**Ames, Iowa**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/iowa/Ames/)September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 2.7
**7.** [**Fargo, N.D.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/north-dakota/Fargo/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 2.8
**8.** [**Iowa City, Iowa**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/iowa/iowa%20city/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 2.8
**9.** [**Rapid City, S.D.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/south-dakota/Rapid%20City/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 2.9
**10.** [**Lincoln, Neb.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Nebraska/Lincoln/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.0
**11.** [**Provo-Orem, Utah**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Utah/Provo/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.0
**12.** [**Billings, Mont.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Montana/Billings/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.1
**13.** [**Charleston, W. Va.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/West%20Virginia/Charleston/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.2
**14.** [**Midland, Texas**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Texas/Midland/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.2
**15.** [**Salt Lake City, Utah**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Utah/Salt%20Lake%20City/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.2
**16.** [**Idaho Falls, Idaho**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Idaho/Idaho%20Falls/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.3
**17.** [**Lafayette, La.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Louisiana/Lafayette/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.3
**18.** [**Santa Fe, N.M.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/New%20Mexico/Santa%20Fe/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.3
**19.** [**Charlottesville, Va.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Virginia/Charlottesville/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.4
**20.** [**Farmington, N.M.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/New%20Mexico/Farmington/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.4
**21.** [**Grand Forks, N.D.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/north-dakota/Grand%20Forks/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.4
**22.** [**Lawton, Okla.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Oklahoma/Lawton/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.4
**23.** [**Madison, Wisc.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Wisconsin/Madison/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.4
**24.** [**Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.-Mo.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Arkansas/Fayetteville/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.5
**25.** [**Harrisonburg, Va.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Virginia/Harrisonburg/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.5
**26.** [**Ogden-Clearfield, Utah**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Utah/Ogden/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.5
**27.** [**Oklahoma City, Okla.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Oklahoma/Oklahoma%20City/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.5
**28.** [**Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Nebraska/Omaha/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.5
**29.** [**Portsmouth, N.H.**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/New%20Hampshire/Portsmouth/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.5
**30.** [**Sioux City, Iowa**](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/jobs/Iowa/Sioux%20City/)
September 2008 Unemployment Rate: 3.5
[http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1644-Job-Search-30-Best-Markets-to-Find-a-Job/?sc\_extcmp=JS\_1644\_home&SiteId=cbmsnhp41644&ArticleID=1644>1=23000&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=eeeb8c4856db4130953ba12c998702d2-293041593-J3-5](http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1644-Job-Search-30-Best-Markets-to-Find-a-Job/?sc_extcmp=JS_1644_home&SiteId=cbmsnhp41644&ArticleID=1644>1=23000&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=eeeb8c4856db4130953ba12c998702d2-293041593-J3-5)
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### Author:  [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/30-best-markets-to-find-a-job/66149/2 "2009-04-14T13:32:34Z")
look at that, they’re all in bumfuck midwest. That’s because there’s always jobs to spread horse shit on a farm.
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### Author:  [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/30-best-markets-to-find-a-job/66149/3 "2009-04-14T13:33:19Z")
How does a low unemployment rate mean that I have a better chance of finding a job? Does Portsmouth, N.H. do a lot of IT work?
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### Author:  [@snowracer101](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/snowracer101)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/30-best-markets-to-find-a-job/66149/4 "2009-04-14T13:34:48Z")
> [@Joe](#):
>
> look at that, they’re all in bumfuck midwest. That’s because there’s always jobs to spread horse shit on a farm.
Ugh fuck that, bible belt country. I would NEVER fucking live there.
You walk into a moms and pops shop and there are jesuses all over the place…hell, even Mcdonalds has crosses hung up in some of these states
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### Author:  [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/30-best-markets-to-find-a-job/66149/5 "2009-04-14T13:36:10Z")
> [@Joe](#):
>
> look at that, they’re all in bumfuck midwest. That’s because there’s always jobs to spread horse shit on a farm.
Hey I wasn’t going to turn this political but since you said that, most of those are REPUBLICAN areas. IMAGINE THAT! Coincidence? I think not. They also have the least amount of hand outs so all of the lazy liberals go to Cali and NY. 😃 That info is proof. 😃
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### Author:  [@Jared](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jared)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/30-best-markets-to-find-a-job/66149/6 "2009-04-14T13:38:13Z")
Charlottesville, VA doe snot sound to bad, we will see what happens when I finish school in dec.
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### Author:  [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/30-best-markets-to-find-a-job/66149/7 "2009-04-14T13:40:47Z")
I bet these 30 places are in the bottom for average wage too.
Quality of jobs is more important than unemployment rate.