These are the worst job markets for 2018

These are the worst job markets for 2018These are the worst job markets for 2018The best job markets boast low unemployment rates, high wage growth, and overall happiness among workers in the area.The worst job markets? Picture the exact opposite.We already checked out the best job markets of 2018. Now were looking at the worst.These areas have the bleakest outlook on employment of anywhere in the country. The employment situation may be great throughout the country, but not in these areas.If youre a new grad looking for work or someone in their mid-career searching for a change, youre not going to find what youre looking for here.These are the 10 worst job markets for 2018Olympia-Tumwater, WASierra Vista-Douglas, AZYuma, AZMorgantown, WVWatertown-Fort Drum, NYParkersburg-Vienna, WVBuffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NYYakima, WAMerced, CAYuba City, CAOnly five states comprise the bottom 10 job markets for 2018. Itd be easy to dismiss these states as bad for employment as a whole, but each has strong job markets throughout their area, too.Just goes to show that the strength of job markets varies, not only by state but by metro area, as well.How we determined the worst job markets of 2018Looking at 386 different metro areas, we ranked each 1 to 386 in three categories wage change, unemployment rate change, and current unemployment rate one being best, 386 being the worst.The average of the three numbers was then used to produce a final ranking of each metro area. The lower number the average, the better job market.For this study, we focused on the higher numbered averages those metro areas that had the highest unemployment rate and wage decreases. These areas are the worst job markets for 2018.Read on for a closer look at the bottom 10 metros, then a list of the bottom 50 at the end.1. Olympia-Tumwater, WAEmployed bevlkerung 109,400Unemployment rate 5%Annual mean wage$49,750Fun fact Seattle is not the capital of Washington. Its Olympia.Not exactly a ringing en dorsement for the states employment situation when your capital is worst in the country.With an unemployment rate of 5% and a year-over-year average wage drop of just over 4%, Olympia is great for a trip, but not to settle down in.2. Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZEmployed bevlkerung 32,000Unemployment rate 5.3%Annual mean wage $46,830Sierra Vista has some gorgeous scenic views and trails to check out if your an outdoorsman. If youre looking for employment, look anywhere else in the state.With the smallest employed bevlkerung of our top ten, there arent a lot of big employers in the Sierra Vista area. Fort Huachuca, an army deutsche bundespost in the city, offers another level of interest over the area, however.3. Yuma, AZEmployed bevlkerung 60,430Unemployment rate 15.7%Annual mean wage $38,500No, thats not a typo. The unemployment rate of Yuma stands at 15.7%. Not ideal.The saddest part? Thats actually a decrease from Yumas 2017 figure 17%.Back in July 2016, the area actually had the high est unemployment rate of all metro areas with a whopping 24.3%.Baby steps, Yuma. Baby steps.4. Morgantown, WVEmployed population 64,520Unemployment rate 4.2%Annual mean wage $43,550If youre a college kid looking to have a good time? Morgantown and West Virginia University is the place for you.If youre looking for a stable job and good income? Best stay away.WVU is consistently ranked a top party school in the country, but is also known for its academic strength as well with many students majoring in engineering and business.With Morgantowns annual mean wage dropping by 7.4% over the brde year, its just best if recent grads from the school try and find work somewhere else.5. Watertown-Fort Drum, NYEmployed population 39,940Unemployment rate 6.6%Annual mean wage $43,300Watertown was a force to be reckoned with in the 19th century, with the city being a major industrial player.Now, with an unemployment rate of 6.6%, the area isnt exactly a hotspot for people looking for work.6. Parkers burg-Vienna, WVEmployed population 37,160Unemployment rate 5.6%Annual mean wage $38,670The third-largest city in West Virginia doesnt offer a wide variety of employment opportunities for those looking to settle in the Mountain State.The unemployment rate hasnt changed since 2017, standing at 5.6%, but only 37,160 people are employed in the area, a near 3,000 drop from last year.7. Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NYEmployed population 547,750Unemployment rate 5.1%Annual mean wage $46,390By far the largest metro area in our top 10, the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls area still doesnt serve as a great resource for job seekers.Wage change in the area has dropped nearly 4% over the last year.But hey, Niagara Falls is gorgeous and BillsMafia is one of our nations most sacred treasures that should be protected at all costs.8. Yakima, WAEmployed population 89,640Unemployment rate 6.4%Annual mean wage $42,680Located only three hours from Olympia, Yakima continues our trend of areas wit h beautiful scenery, but not so great jobs.The area also has seen its unemployment rate decrease over the last year, but has also seen its average wage pay fall as well.9. Merced, CAEmployed population 69,200Unemployment rate 8.7%Annual mean wage $45,230With the fifth-worst unemployment rate in the country, Merced offers little outside some nice Pueblo architecture and pretty countrysides.Year-over-year wages have also fallen for the area as well.10. Yuba City, CAEmployed population 42,770Unemployment rate 7.3%Annual mean wage $47,370Rounding out our bottom 10, Yuba City also has the 10th-worst unemployment rate in the country, too.Similar to Yuma, the area has come a long way since the early 2010s when its unemployment rate was much higher.For a list of the worst 50 job markets, check out this table belowThis article first appeared on Zippia.