One Snarky Chica with Issues

If you are thinking of moving to a new state or are having difficulty finding a job in the state where you currently live, there is a resource you need to know about. It is the US Department of Labor website.  Specifically I am referring to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

If you click on the link above, just scroll down until you see the “Latest Numbers” heading on the right sidebar. Below that will be the most recent data for unemployment rates by state. You can find the same info through some of the other links on the page. There is even some data for large cities like Los Angeles.

Looking at the Latest Numbers, keep in mind that the national average for May (the most recent numbers) is 5.5%. So, say you are living in California and having a hard time finding employment then you will notice that their level of unemployment is above the national average. And if you are looking for a state to move to, then you might want to take notice of places like Utah and Maryland that have state unemployment rates below the national average.

It is important to keep in mind though that this does not mean you will be able to find jobs in your specific field. However, it is a good measuring stick of how the economy is in a particular state.