Cities adding (and losing) the most jobs
- Dec 21, 2017
- Written by Ken
25 cities adding (and losing) the most jobs in 2017
Here is a look at the five cities adding and losing the most jobs in 2017.
2017 may stand out for many events and developments, and among them is the exceptional year turned in by the labor market. For one, U.S. unemployment dropped to 4.1% in October, the lowest since December 2000.
Barring a massive exodus of workers from the labor force, falling unemployment almost always reflects increased hiring, which in turn bodes well for the economy. But while national conditions are favorable, trends vary substantially across the country, and not all local economies have been doing as well.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed monthly metro area employment figures in 2017 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. From January through October, employment — the number of Americans currently employed — rose by 1.2%. Employment rose faster over that period in 187 of the nation’s 388 metro areas. It declined in 78 metro areas.
Most of the cities adding the most jobs in 2017 reported uninterrupted employment increases over the course of the year, but this was not always the case. Both Yuma, Arizona and Corvallis, Oregon reported among the largest employment increases this year, yet had some fairly dramatic employment fluctuations. In Yuma, for example, seasonally adjusted employment levels dropped for four consecutive months in the summer before rising again in September and October.
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Similarly, while the trend in most cities losing the most jobs was one of steady decline, in several job changes were somewhat erratic. Employment in the St. Joseph metro area, on the border of Montana and Kansas, for example, surged in July before dropping in October.
25 cities adding the most jobs in 2017
1. Bellingham, WA Employment change: 5,609 (+5.5%) Jan. 2017 employment: 102,069 Oct. 2017 employment: 107,678 Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 4.5% Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+16.9% employment chg.)
25 cities adding the most jobs in 2017
Cities adding the most jobs
25. Janesville-Beloit, Wisc.
Employment change: 2,826 (+3.5%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 80,978
Oct. 2017 employment: 83,804
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 3.4%
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+11.5% employment chg.)
24. Corvallis, Ore.
Employment change: 1,627 (+3.6%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 45,537
Oct. 2017 employment: 47,164
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 3.3% (lowest 25%)
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+8.3% employment chg.)
23. Yuma, Ariz.
Employment change: 2,883 (+3.6%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 79,504
Oct. 2017 employment: 82,387
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 17.4% (highest 10%)
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+4.5% employment chg.)
22. Johnson City, Tenn.
Employment change: 3,147 (+3.7%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 84,679
Oct. 2017 employment: 87,826
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 3.6%
Strongest sector: Government (+11.1% employment chg.)
21. Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga.
Employment change: 9,377 (+3.8%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 249,982
Oct. 2017 employment: 259,359
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 3.5%
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+8.2% employment chg.)
20. Eugene, Ore.
Employment change: 6,475 (+3.8%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 172,152
Oct. 2017 employment: 178,627
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 4.6%
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+13.7% employment chg.)
19. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash.
Employment change: 46,621 (+3.8%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 1,230,028
Oct. 2017 employment: 1,276,649
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 4.2%
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+19.4% employment chg.)
18. Bremerton-Silverdale, Wash.
Employment change: 4,366 (+3.9%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 111,618
Oct. 2017 employment: 115,984
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 4.6%
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+7.1% employment chg.)
17. Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, Fla.
Employment change: 6,466 (+4.1%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 158,952
Oct. 2017 employment: 165,418
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 3.4%
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+9.1% employment chg.)
16. Auburn-Opelika, Ala.
Employment change: 2,938 (+4.2%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 70,002
Oct. 2017 employment: 72,940
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 3.1% (lowest 25%)
Strongest sector: Government (+10.9% employment chg.)
15. Bend-Redmond, Ore.
Employment change: 3,684 (+4.2%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 87,205
Oct. 2017 employment: 90,889
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 4.2%
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+22.8% employment chg.)
14. Morristown, TN Employment change: 2,043 (+4.2%) Jan. 2017 employment: 48,359 Oct. 2017 employment: 50,402 Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 3.6% Strongest sector: Education and health services (+14.5% employment chg.) (Photo: Home4tnindustry / Wikimedia Commons)
14. Morristown, Tenn.
Employment change: 2,043 (+4.2%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 48,359
Oct. 2017 employment: 50,402
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 3.6%
Strongest sector: Education and health services (+14.5% employment chg.)
13. Olympia-Tumwater, Wash.
Employment change: 5,548 (+4.4%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 125,170
Oct. 2017 employment: 130,718
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 4.7%
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+18.8% employment chg.)
12. Longview, Wash.
Employment change: 1,885 (+4.5%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 41,617
Oct. 2017 employment: 43,502
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 5.6% (highest 25%)
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+6.5% employment chg.)
11. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.
Employment change: 43,392 (+4.6%)
Jan. 2017 employment: 949,989
Oct. 2017 employment: 993,381
Unemployment, Oct. 2017: 2.4% (lowest 10%)
Strongest sector: Mining, logging, and construction (+7.2% employment chg.)