You Need to Go Where the Jobs Are

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of available jobs in the United States has soared in recent years. As of mid-2017, there are approximately six million jobs open nationwide, the American economy is booming, and the unemployment rate is lower than it's been since The Great Recession. Despite these facts, there are still nearly eight million unemployed Americans. Why is unemployment still an issue when there are so many available jobs?

Employment Barriers

One of the greatest employment barriers impacting jobless Americans is that the jobs are not located where these individuals live. As of mid-2017, some of the areas experiencing the fastest job growth include Salt Lake City, Utah; Boise City, Idaho; Atlanta, Georgia; San Bernardino, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada. Many unemployed individuals either can't afford to relocate to these areas or are unwilling to leave their families behind. Poor wages and minimal benefits also impact a person's willingness to relocate.

Another barrier to employment is that many jobless Americans have minimal skills and are grossly underqualified for many of the available jobs. Job training programs are available in most states, but many jobless individuals don't sign up for these programs, as they don't always lead to employment. This is especially true in areas known for having higher-than-average unemployment rates, such as Tulsa, Oklahoma; Rochester, New York; and Akron, Ohio.

Technology's Impact on Employment

Due to technology's impact on the economy, many employers with available jobs in manufacturing, assembling, farming and driving are having trouble attracting and keeping workers. Many Americans are simply uninterested in these types of jobs and are flocking towards technology-based careers, such as computer programming, video game designing, software engineering and web developing. Millennials are especially disinterested in manual labor jobs, finding careers in technology more exciting, lucrative and rewarding.

Employers are doing what they can to attract new workers but are finding it hard to compete with tech-based companies. For example, according to the American Trucking Association, there are approximately 50,000 trucking jobs available as of mid-2017, and the jobs pay between $50,000 to $$70,000 per year, which is an above-average salary. However, applicants are minimal, since the job is physically demanding and requires workers to be away from home for extended periods. Trucking companies typically offer training and assist new hires with obtaining the licenses they need to begin working. The opportunity to secure gainful employment in the trucking industry is available to anyone willing to make the necessary sacrifices.

The farming industry is also suffering, but not because there is a lack of jobs. Workers are simply leaving these jobs behind to explore the multitude of options available in the tech industry. Available jobs in farming, construction or manufacturing are not hard to come by. Jobless Americans who want a better financial situation must be open to all types of opportunities.

Unemployed Americans can drastically increase their chances of landing a job with good pay if they're willing to relocate to an area with plenty of available jobs. Many employers are in desperate need of workers, and a jobless American who is willing to make this sacrifice can potentially build a promising career.

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