It is no secret that I have been shopping around for either a new "little" job to add onto the work I already do or a new job to replace everything I else I do. I know there are others who are looking for work, too. Some may be perfectly content and settled in with whatever they do for a living, but may know of family members or friends who are searching for new or different employment.
Whether resumes, applications, interviews, letters, recommendations, trials, nepotism (yes, it still exists), auditions, or just good old fashioned luck is exercized, where a person is looking for employment can increase or decrease the chances of "getting the foot in the door", depending on a state's unemployment rate.
A recent report came out that identified the 10 locations in the US with the highest unemployment rates, meaning that finding a job in these particular states may be difficult indeed.
1. Michigan
Unemployment rate: 7.6 percent
Population: 10,071,822
Mean annual wage: $41,230
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (18.4 percent)***
Unemployment rate: 7.6 percent
Population: 10,071,822
Mean annual wage: $41,230
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (18.4 percent)***
2. Mississippi
Unemployment rate: 6.8 percent
Population: 2,918,785
Mean annual wage: $30,460
Top industry: Government (21.2 percent)
Population: 2,918,785
Mean annual wage: $30,460
Top industry: Government (21.2 percent)
3. South Carolina
Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent
Population: 4,407,709
Mean annual wage: $33,400
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (19.4 percent)
Population: 4,407,709
Mean annual wage: $33,400
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (19.4 percent)
4. Alaska
Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent
Population: 683,478
Mean annual wage: $43,920
Top industry: Government (25.9 percent)
Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent
Population: 683,478
Mean annual wage: $43,920
Top industry: Government (25.9 percent)
5. California
Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent
Population: 36,553,215
Mean annual wage: $44,180
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (18.9 percent)
Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent
Population: 36,553,215
Mean annual wage: $44,180
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (18.9 percent)
6. District of Columbia
Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent
Population: 588,292
Mean annual wage: $61,500
Top industry: Government (33.3 percent)
Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent
Population: 588,292
Mean annual wage: $61,500
Top industry: Government (33.3 percent)
7. Ohio
Unemployment rate: 6 percent
Population: 11,466,917
Mean annual wage: $37,360
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (19.3 percent)
Unemployment rate: 6 percent
Population: 11,466,917
Mean annual wage: $37,360
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (19.3 percent)
8. Arkansas
Unemployment rate: 5.9 percent
Population: 2,834,797
Mean annual wage: $30,870
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (20.6 percent)
Unemployment rate: 5.9 percent
Population: 2,834,797
Mean annual wage: $30,870
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (20.6 percent)
9. Nevada
Unemployment rate: 5.8 percent
Population: 2,565,382
Mean annual wage: $36,000
Top industry: Leisure and hospitality (26.5 percent)
Unemployment rate: 5.8 percent
Population: 2,565,382
Mean annual wage: $36,000
Top industry: Leisure and hospitality (26.5 percent)
10. Kentucky
Unemployment rate: 5.7 percent
Population: 4,241,474
Mean annual wage: $33,490
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (20.4 percent)
Population: 4,241,474
Mean annual wage: $33,490
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (20.4 percent)
*Unemployment rates, mean annual wages and industry percentages obtained from BLS in January 2008. Percentages based on nonfarm payrolls, seasonally adjusted.
**Population figures based on U.S. Census Bureau data.
***Top industries are those that employ the largest percentage of a state’s labor force.
**Population figures based on U.S. Census Bureau data.
***Top industries are those that employ the largest percentage of a state’s labor force.
10 comments on Looking For a Job?
Add a comment
To add comments without entering your email and image verification, you must be logged in. Login or Join Blogster
You betcha. Things are sure tough here in Ohio! At the end of March, one of my dearest friends will be losing her job (the store where she has worked for years is going out of business), and she is one worried lady. [THUMB DOWN]
I know exactly what you mean. My brother lives in Ohio and gives thanks every day for the truck driving job he has (because, not that long ago when he was between jobs, he couldn't find a job to save his life until this one came along). His girlfriend is currently liquidating her business (custom embroidery, uniform and flag-making, trophies and engraving) with hopes she can either re-start as home-based or use her skills working for someone else.
So glad I am out of that race--funny, but Sheila my old manager at Big Louie's is always asking me to come back for a night or two--come on down and I'll get you the job--my last year there I just worked weekends and made between $300-500.
Well, I would love to take advantage of that. Can't, though. There always seems to be work in the restaurant business, though. Even if a place should close or downsize, there's always another one somewhere that needs help. And there are so many different kinds of restaurants, from donut shops right up to luxurious, high class restaurants.
I thought things were pretty tough here in RI, but I see we didn't make the list. That means things are even tougher in other places. Jeez, that must be so frustrating.
I was really surprised that Illinois was not on that list. There is such a discrepancy in southern wages--transportation, utilities and the government jobs seem to be the greatest. So many companies have moved overseas taking their jobs with them. I try to buy American made products whenever I can. So many places carry few of them any more.
You know, I don't remember that as being a real problem when I was growing up. Certain things may have been imported goods and other things were American made, but there seemed to be a balance. Manufacturing and other industries seemed to be doing fine here and the products were available here as well as were exported. It seems that, over time, imported goods took over certain elements of the market and the shift in business/company locations and, therefore the workforce, made a complete off-balanced change. I don't see anything wrong with businesses having locations in multiple and different parts of the world and DOING business in different parts of the world, but none should completely abandon their real home or let another business/industry replace their own. (I'm not sure if I worded that last line correctly, but I know what I was trying to say.)
I am not in those states but finding a job is touch indeed. Good luck to us all.
I can only imagine what it must be like in those states. It can be rather tough here in RI and it's discouraging and frustrating for a lot of people. And those ten places have even more of a problem.
I'm really surprised Hawaii is not on that list, especially now. Aloha Airlines closed business and hundreds lost their jobs. They also closed their cargo business here in the islands. We have so many people that are unemployed now. It's tough to find a job here.
Well, this was written long before Aloha Airlines closed which, by the way, was of shocking interest to me because that airline was often used when I (and my agency) booked clients on trips to Hawaii. I'm sure Hawaii's employment/unemployment picture changed dramatically when the airline shut down (along with any other job problems that occurred), but other states that were already having problems also had their bad situations escalate. Things are not good anywhere! (I can almost see that a person living in a more stable state doesn't even feel much consolation if that person is out of work and hasn't been able to find a job because of the wrong job skills or all the jobs are already filled. And, I hate the saying "There's plenty of jobs out there if a person REALLY wants to work" because there could be plenty of reasons why "those" jobs are NOT a choice.)