The Tough Get Going

In March, the U.S. unemployment rate reached 8.5 percent, the highest in a quarter of a century.  In Michigan and Oregon, the unemployment rate is more than 12 percent.  For job-seekers who are willing to pack up and move, several states, while not overflowing with jobs, have unemployment rates lower than the national average.

Huntsville, Alabama
The largest city in northern Alabama in a region of a half-million people, Huntsville is also home to the biggest space museum in the world. Unemployment is at 6 percent, but the city also supports big aerospace and defense industries.

Boulder, Colorado
Those with experience in the fields of education, high-tech or biotech might want to check out Boulder, where the unemployment rate is 5.8 percent. Additionally, an attempt last year to ban payday loans from the state failed, so consumers still have the option of getting short-term emergency loans.  

Washington, D.C.
With a population of 5.3 million and unemployment at 5.5 percent, jobs can be found in government, nonprofit and defense.  Plus, DC’s got a wealth of culture for the employed to take advantage of!

Madison, Wisconsin
If cold weather and lots of snow is what you seek, but Boulder’s population is too small with too high of an employment rate to boot, Madison may be for you. The city’s unemployment rate is 5.3 percent, and its population is 556,000. There’s a big education industry and lots of jobs in biotechnology and government. Wisconsin is also one of the few states that limit how much banks can charge for NSF. Additionally, Payday loans are easy to get in Wisconsin, and are still less expensive than bouncing multiple checks.

Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City’s main industries are education, tourism and transportation. The city’s population is 1.1 million, with unemployment at 4.6 percent.  Outside of skiing and Mormons, Utah is also known for its unconventional liquor laws, of which you, gainfully employed, can take full advantage.

Lafayette, Louisiana
The city’s population is 250,000, and with an unemployment rate of 3.9, you can likely get a job in almost any industry. Oil and gas are the big ones though, so if you can swing a job in either of these, you should be all set.