Hardest and Easiest Cities to Find Jobs.

Everyone knows the job market is difficult right now. However, depending on what part of the country you are in, the market could be in a completely different condition than the general 10% unemployment rate the United States is facing. Job Search Engine JuJu has done the research and shown what particular cities have been hit worst--and which have had the softest fall.

Hardest Cities to Find a Job:

10) Orlando, Florida (Unemployed per advertised job: 8.92%)
9) Providence, Rhode Island (9.23%)
8) Birmingham, Alabama (9.62%)
7) Los Angeles, California (10.43%)
6) Sacramento, California (10.97%)
5) Las Vegas, Nevada (11.85%)
4) Riverside, California (12.35%)
3) Miami, Florida (14.47%)
2) St. Louis, Missouri (17.98%)
1) Detroit, Michigan (20.76%)

Easiest Cities to Find a Job:

10) Austin, Texas (Unemployed per advertised job: 4.30%)
9) San Antonio, Texas (3.84%)
8) Denver, Colorado (3.81%)
7) Hartford, Connecticut (3.60%)
6) Salt Lake City, Utah (3.35%)
5) New York City, New York (3.35%)
4) Boston, Massachusetts (3.11%)
3) Baltimore, MD (2.91%)
2) San Jose, California (2.68%)
1) Washington, DC (1.87%)

What is striking to me is that it's not the rust belt that is dominating the worst job markets, it's the sun belt. Perhaps it's because the rust belt has had its share of difficulties for quite some time and has already taken strides to reinvent new economies for their cities (Cleveland as a healthcare city, Pittsburgh as an insurance city, etc.). The sun belt cities have enjoyed extreme growth over the past few decades, and much of that growth is founded on tourism and travel. But with the economy tightening people's extravagant expenditures, suddenly these areas are hit--and hit hard, too.

Anyone surprised to see that the capital has the lowest unemployment? There will always be the government, no matter how much we may dismay about it. Regardless, what needs to be remembered is the old adage, "This too will pass". While it is difficult right now, and the whole country is feeling it, what should be noted is that this current economic time is cultivating a new society for us. How many of you spent thousands on Christmas presents this year? Probably very few. While in the past the focus was on consumerism and stuff, this year I noticed with all of my holiday interactions the focus was on people. I received more cookies, food and cards than I have ever received before. And I hope this trend continues. I hope our society shifts to people-focused rather than stuff-focused.

It only takes an economic recession to get the American people to finally make a much needed change.