There are some cities that, despite a better hiring economy, lack any sort of competitive job market. Still, job seekers relocate to these metropolitan areas to beat the odds and, from what my recruiting firm has seen, regret the relocation significantly.
While it is possible to find a sales, marketing, or business development job anywhere, even the most talented are going to find more headwinds in cities that are showing little to no improvement.
Philadelphia – To give you an idea as to why this Northeast Corridor city makes the list: Philadelphia job seekers hit our site in droves, but there are no employers in sight. Not even poor ones that don’t offer marketable jobs. Nothing.
Philadelphia may have some good sports teams, but when you can’t afford to buy a ticket due to no good jobs being around, you’re going to be living off of Brotherly Love.
Phoenix – When thousands of people lose their homes due to a terrible market, they typically like to leave the past behind them, often leaving the city altogether.
While some would say that the amount of competition dropping may be an intelligent time to move, standing out as the best unemployed candidate in the city still cannot be monetized. Unless you want to get in the distressed housing business, you’re simply going to be distressed.
Good weather, absolutely. Though, it doesn’t matter when there is no money to fill the pool.
Tampa – While Miami is picking up with hiring, Tampa is remaining stagnant. I do think this area will pick up, but being a second to Miami, which seems to have some interesting positions opening up, I am not all that sure that people relocating to Florida shouldn’t head to Miami rather than the west-central coast. The opportunity cost of waiting for a position can be very high, not to mention quite frustrating… even with the best golf courses on the East Coast.
Minneapolis / St. Paul – The Twin Cities were booming prior to the economy tanking. While Minneapolis and St. Paul are the best of the worst on this list, that’s not saying much.
While sales jobs have faded along with a nonexistent marketing and media need, there are still some opportunities, but the high demand for each open job pushes the salary down, thus making relocating there quite unattractive.
Combine this with the freezing winter and unattractive becomes dreadful.
Honorable mentions go to: Detroit, Dallas and San Jose.
