If you’re looking for work, avoid the worst job markets in America.Spencer Platt/Getty Images
- Careers site Zippia recently ranked the worst job markets in America for 2018.
- The two worst job markets in America were both in New Jersey, according to Zippia.
- The rankings were based on each metro area’s unemployment rate, the change in unemployment rate from 2017 to 2018, and the average wage decrease from 2017 to 2018.
If you’re looking for a new job, you’ll probably want to avoid the following cities.
Careers site Zippia recently named the 10 worst job markets in America according to three factors measured by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics: unemployment rate, change in unemployment rate from 2017 to 2018, and the average wage decrease from 2017 to 2018. (You can see the list of the best job markets here.)
According to Zippia’s numbers, the two worst job markets in the country are both in New Jersey, while West Virginia, Washington, and California all also claimed multiple metro areas on the list.
Read on to see the 13 worst job markets in the country.
13. Longview, Washington
Employed population: 37,100
Unemployment rate: 6.2%
Annual mean wage: $47,430
12. Fresno, California
Employed population: 372,770
Unemployment rate: 7.5%
Annual mean wage: $45,510
11. Charleston, West Virginia
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Employed population: 111,090
Unemployment rate: 5.4%
Annual mean wage: $43,590
10. Salinas, California
Employed population: 171,870
Unemployment rate: 6.7%
Annual mean wage: $48,290
9. Beckley, West Virginia
Employed population: 42,670
Unemployment rate: 6.1%
Annual mean wage: $38,790
8. Wenatchee, Washington
Employed population: 45,710
Unemployment rate: 5.3%
Annual mean wage: $44,630
7. Bakersfield, California
Employed population: 303,620
Unemployment rate: 8.3%
Annual mean wage: $47,680
6. Hanford-Corcoran, California
Flickr Creative Commons/J. Stephen Conn
Employed population: 42,140
Unemployment rate: 8%
Annual mean wage: $46,510
5. Bellingham, Washington
Employed population: 85,600
Unemployment rate: 4.8%
Annual mean wage: $48,030
4. Grants Pass, Oregon
Employed population: 24,810
Unemployment rate: 5.2%
Annual mean wage: $39,020
3. Cumberland Metro, Maryland and West Virginia
Employed population: 37,220
Unemployment rate: 5.7%
Annual mean wage: $43,130
2. Vineland-Bridgeton, New Jersey
Employed population: 58,880
Unemployment rate: 6.6%
Annual mean wage: $46,220
1. Ocean City, New Jersey
Employed population: 38,760
Unemployment rate: 10.1%
Annual mean wage: $42,670
