A Thousand Jobs Gained or Lost Can Make Big Waves on a City’s Economy

What’s one way to make a difference?  Support a growing economy in a small city.

In a smaller economy, the effect of bringing new jobs into the area can really impact a lot of people.  This can be observed by the way a relatively small number of new jobs was able to revitalize the economy of Sandusky, Ohio.  Over the past year, Sandusky’s employment increased nearly eight percent.  Similar phenomena occurred in Indiana and Missouri.

But there was also good news in metropolises around the country.  The biggest successes happened in Texas.  The largest over-the-year employment increase occurred in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (+69,000 jobs), followed by Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (+51,800 jobs).

Smaller cities also really feel it when one or two major businesses shuts down.  The largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment occurred in Pine Bluff, Arkansas (?3.2 percent), followed by Lewiston, Idaho-Washington; and Yuma, Arizona (?2.7 percent each).

Sacramento was the hardest hit by sheer number of job loss.  The largest over-the-year employment decrease was recorded in Sacramento—Arden-Arcade—Roseville, California (?14,600).  Severe losses also occurred in Memphis, Tennessee-Mississippi-Arkansas (?7,500); Baltimore-Towson, Maryland (?5,300); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia (?4,900); and Trenton-Ewing, New Jersey (?3,900).