Job seekers with no ties to any particular location often seek jobs in big cities like New York, Chicago, Illinois, Los Angeles, California, or San Francisco, California.
But are these the places where they're most likely to find a job?
Not according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Job seekers are better off looking in such cities as Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Rapid City, South Dakota. All of these cities registered the lowest unemployment rates in July 2008.
Low unemployment rates seem harder to come by in today's economy. Jobless rates were higher in 338 of the 369 U.S. metropolitan areas surveyed this July, which means 92 percent of cities have seen an increase in their unemployment rates.
Only 25 areas reported lower rates, while six areas had no change. The national unemployment rate in July, 6 percent, was up 1.1 percent from 4.9 percent last year.
Only nine areas registered rates below 3 percent this July and just 40 cities had unemployment rates below 4 percent, down from 91 areas at the same time last year. In total, 153 cities had an unemployment rate higher than the average, 205 areas had rates below it and 11 areas had the same rate. iReport.com: Looking for a job? Share your story
Despite these startling figures, there are several cities with low unemployment rates and sizeable job growth. Here are 25 cities with the lowest unemployment rates and the job growth they're experiencing, according to the BLS.
Unemployment rate: 2.4 percent
Last year: 2.3 percent
Job growth: 2.1 percent
Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
Last year: 2.6 percent
Job growth: 1 percent
Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
Last year: 1.6 percent
Job growth: N/A
Unemployment rate: 2.6 percent
Last year: 2.5 percent
Job growth: 2.2 percent
Unemployment rate: 2.7 percent
Last year: 2.9 percent
Job growth: 1.1 percent
Unemployment rate: 2.8 percent
Last year: 3.4 percent
Job growth: 1.8 percent
Unemployment rate: 2.8 percent
Last year: 2.3 percent
Job growth: N/A
Unemployment rate: 2.9 percent
Last year: 2.6 percent
Job growth: 1.6 percent
Unemployment rate: 2.9 percent
Last year: 2.7 percent
Job growth: N/A
Unemployment rate: 3.0 percent
Last year: 2.3 percent
Job growth: 2.9 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent
Last year: 2.8 percent
Job growth: N/A
Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent
Last year: 3.1 percent
Job growth: 2.8 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent
Last year: 3.2 percent
Job growth: 2.4 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.2 percent
Last year: 2.8 percent
Job growth: 0.7 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.3 percent
Last year: 3.2 percent
Job growth: 1.4 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.3 percent
Last year: 3.1 percent
Job growth: 2.8 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.4 percent
Last year: 2.7 percent
Job growth: N/A
Unemployment rate: 3.4 percent
Last year: 4.1 percent
Job growth: 1 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.5 percent
Last year: 3.1 percent
Job growth: 1.2 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.5 percent
Last year: 2.6 percent
Job growth: -0.3 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.5 percent
Last year: 2.7 percent
Job growth: 2.2 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.6 percent
Last year: 2.8 percent
Job growth: 1.2 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.7 percent
Last year: 3.8 percent
Job growth: 4.4 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.7 percent
Last year: 2.4 percent
Job growth: N/A
Unemployment rate: 3.7 percent
Last year: 3.6 percent
Job growth: -1.9 percent
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