15 Great Cities for Job Seekers

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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.
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* y6 A0 l; r& V0 |9 N& y( qThe 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.
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1. Fargo, N.D.
  V. D' \' N( d4 t  cUnemployment rate: 1.5 percent *
Mean annual wage: $32,580*
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (22.8 percent)**
' ]* L. l! m* t% m3 x- QPredominant occupation: 33.4 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations**

& i) [& }1 a1 {: b# H8 U9 H+ Q. s2. Bismarck, N.D.
( ?5 [/ f7 J: L* s) ~" j( bUnemployment rate: 1.9 percent
& p3 V1 s. Y" m7 R6 D/ r3 S+ sMean annual wage: $31,580
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (32.7 percent)
0 }# U! [* B% ^, B! x! P/ W0 R% gPredominant occupation: 38.2 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

0 D9 n* D$ u9 m3 k( }" s0 D3. Logan, Utah
Unemployment rate: 2.2 percent
Mean annual wage: $29,520
: X& P5 e, B% D( h/ u% k. W* wIndustry 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

, ?( c4 P' V6 S+ y' _: B* T4. St. George, Utah
2 M" Q& y: |# z$ f& JUnemployment rate: 2.2 percent
: P& |8 {: ^% T- T, }' lMean annual wage: $29,770
/ {; U) z; `, f. n) a6 PIndustry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (18.1 percent)
# M, [8 i# m' @$ s! R& m0 {( {Predominant occupation: 29.2 percent of workers are employed in sales and office occupations
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5. Ames, Iowa
0 O& \7 i/ T2 p1 F+ y9 vUnemployment rate: 2.3 percent
( o6 U- \3 j+ s7 b  U- AMean annual wage: $36,050
  d6 K8 D  N+ A% s) O5 [2 K: VIndustry 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
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( n; F7 P- N' [8 I: U6. 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

. |5 f; H; G& T7. Billings, Mont.
Unemployment rate: 2.4 percent
Mean annual wage: $31,290
7 z, W6 [3 q2 eIndustry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (21.4 percent)
) i; f) n9 g7 @+ j% v: Q' [Predominant occupation: 31.9 percent of workers are employed in sales and office occupations

8. Charlottesville, Va.
5 e$ s4 I% |- x4 ?3 ~) uUnemployment rate: 2.4 percent
4 N" F5 x0 k5 F- q( {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
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! M9 t6 ~' B( s. k9. Iowa City, Iowa
) i1 P% C1 \$ `5 @' qUnemployment rate: 2.4 percent
Mean annual wage: $32,530
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (44.3 percent)
6 O4 f* J" w/ \  X) }4 O! ]Predominant occupation: 43.6 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations

10. Provo-Orem, Utah
Unemployment rate: 2.4 percent
  A2 l& I; @$ s- z! y2 [Mean annual wage: $38,490
( O4 z* t, {, Z7 I5 qIndustry with largest percentage of workforce (Provo): Educational, health and social services (32.7 percent)
1 E  p4 S1 u8 O% gPredominant occupation (Provo): 38.3 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations
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11. Sioux City, S.D.
. `0 ?) p6 O# l& S  W" b7 Q2 C3 N9 zUnemployment rate: 2.4 percent
Mean annual wage: $31,340
Industry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (19.8 percent)
2 V$ _4 O, Z3 r2 b% Q) x7 J  PPredominant occupation: 33.2 percent of workers are employed in sales and office occupations
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12. Boise City-Nampa, Idaho
+ w  b% t4 e& p$ i* H: VUnemployment rate: 2.5 percent
Mean annual wage: $35,330
. [" w6 U: X9 [4 Y$ YIndustry with largest percentage of workforce (Boise City): Educational, health and social services (17.8 percent)
# B( o! ~3 i4 Z+ e, t, aPredominant occupation (Boise City): 38.8 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations
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13. Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, Fla.
Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
Mean annual wage: $32,430
Industry with largest percentage of workforce (Fort Walton Beach): Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (15.7 percent)
2 k1 N  x+ j3 f6 @$ Y' {Predominant occupation (Fort Walton Beach): 30.3 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations
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14. Huntsville, Ala.
Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
Mean annual wage: $39,540
" Z: {  B8 _8 B) G0 e0 f) jIndustry with largest percentage of workforce: Educational, health and social services (19.7 percent)
, V3 [# t9 y, I: ^7 x5 q: ?Predominant occupation: 44.3 percent of workers are employed in management, professional and related occupations
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5 Q$ b# E* c# T) e9 `2 q# `% b15. Lincoln, Neb.
Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
# E* @- C+ |! c' i5 H! [% r1 }) ^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

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* Unemployment rates and annual wages obtained from BLS in September 2006.
: \+ u# U5 g) U3 |. j** Industry percentages and predominant occupations obtained from 2000 census.