Charlotte Job Prospects Mixed For 2018

CHARLOTTE, NC — If you’re looking for a new job in the Queen City metro area in 2018, you might want to temper your optimism. Charlotte ranked 68 out of 182 U.S. cities on WalletHub's 2018 Best Places to Find a Job report. The personal finance website said it based its findings on 26 key indicators of job-market strength. They range from job opportunities to employment growth to monthly average starting salary.

"With 2017 behind us, it's time to think about fresh starts again. But whether that means a small change or a complete life overhaul, finding a new or better job will be a top resolution," WalleHub said on Tuesday in releasing its findings. "If that's your mission for the new year, it's a good time to be on the job market."

The website pointed to recent statistics by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that showed the national unemployment rate had fallen to a 17-year low of 4.1 percent while hiring is up.

"College graduates, especially, will see a strong boost in their job prospects," WalletHub said, adding that employers plan to hire 4 percent more members of the class of 2018 than from the previous graduating class based on information obtained from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. "But your luck of finding work depends largely on location."

Four of the five best cities to find a job were in Arizona. Topping the list was Chandler, Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, San Francisco; Peoria, Arizona and Gilbert, Arizona.

State capital Raleigh, was ranked slightly higher for new jobs, at No. 65. Elsewhere in the state, however, prospects were a bit worse, according to the report. Durham was ranked No. 96, Winston-Salem No. 149, Greensboro No. 153 and Fayetteville No. 170

In other parts of the country, the job prospects are worse. The worst cities to find a job were Shreveport, Louisiana; Detroit and Newark.

Click here to read more about the study.

Patch Editor Paul Scicchitano contributed to this report.

Photo via Pixabay