Some parts of the country have seen significant job growth in the past year.
24/7 Wall St. identified metro areas with the greatest percentage gains in jobs over the past year. The study found the industries driving the most job growth recently are energy-related, as well as housing and construction jobs.
The cities adding some of the most jobs are:
Naples-Marco Island, Fla.
Jobs percent change in the past year: 7.6%
Unemployment rate: 6.4%
Sebastian-Vero Beach, Fla.
Jobs percent change: 6.7%
Unemployment rate: 8%
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Fla.
Jobs percent change: 6%
Unemployment rate: 4.4%
Midland, Texas
Jobs percent change: 5.2%
Unemployment rate: 3.1%
Yuba City, Calif.
Jobs percent change: 4.8%
Unemployment rate: 12.4%
Jonesboro, Ark.
Jobs percent change: 4.6%
Unemployment rate: 6.4%
Odessa, Texas
Jobs percent change: 4.6%
Unemployment rate: 3.6%
On the other hand, Decatur, Ill., has seen the largest number of job losses in the past year. Decatur had a 4.3 percent decrease in employment in the past year, resulting in an unemployment rate of 11.7 percent. The city is losing jobs mostly due to a still-sluggish manufacturing sector.
Source: “American Cities Adding (and Losing) the Most Jobs,” 24/7 Wall St. (Dec. 12, 2013)