There are signs the economy is healing. The unemployment rate fell from 10.0 to 9.7 percent in January – indicating companies are hiring – although many conservatively.
According to seasonally adjusted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, out of the largest 281 metros in the United States, 77 cities added jobs the July-October 2009 period. Eleven metros saw no change in the number of employed persons; however, another 193 metros saw declines in jobs.
The best…
Of those 77 cities whose employment increased from July-October 2009, here are 19 that saw growth by 1 percent or more.
Merced, Calif.
No. of employed in July: 55,200
No. of employed in October: 56,700
Percent change: +2.7
Morgantown, W.Va.
No. of employed in July: 62,800
No. of employed in October: 64,300
Percent change: +2.4
Dubuque, Iowa
No. of employed in July: 53,200
No. of employed in October: 54,300
Percent change: +2.1
Wilmington, N.C.
No. of employed in July: 138,400
No. of employed in October: 141,300
Percent change: +2.1
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, N.J.
No. of employed in July: 60,200
No. of employed in October: 61,400
Percent change: +2
Mansfield, Ohio
No. of employed in July: 53,800
No. of employed in October: 54,900
Percent change: +2
Fresno, Calif.
No. of employed in July: 289,900
No. of employed in October: 293,100
Percent change: +1.1
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, Calif.
No. of employed in July: 167,700
No. of employed in October: 169,600
Percent change: +1.1
And the worst
There were also 193 metros that experienced declines in jobs from July-October 2009. Here are the 15 that had the greatest losses.
Greenville, N.C.
No. of employed in July: 76,400
No. of employed in October: 74,900
Percent change: -2
Columbus, Ga.-Ala.
No. of employed in July: 120,200
No. of employed in October: 117,700
Percent change: -2.1
Dalton, Ga.
No. of employed in July: 68,000
No. of employed in October: 66,600
Percent change: -2.1
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
No. of employed in July: 119,400
No. of employed in October: 116,800
Percent change: -2.2
Lafayette, Ind.
No. of employed in July: 96,700
No. of employed in October: 94,500
Percent change: -2.3
Bellingham, Wash.
No. of employed in July: 82,200
No. of employed in October: 80,300
Percent change: -2.3
Greeley, Colo.
No. of employed in July: 79,700
No. of employed in October: 77,800
Percent change: -2.4
