10 worst cities to start a career

As the gig economy booms and the positive job numbers continue to pour out from the DOL, it is evident that the current market is strong for job seekers. However, there are some municipalities that are prime for the up and coming worker to find stellar growth. However, there are also other areas in the country that might not be as strong for growth.

According to financial site WalletHub, these cities may prove difficult for the aspiring job seeker. When researching the best and worse spots to launch a career, research looked across two key dimensions, “professional opportunities” (weighing 70% of the overall score) and “quality of life” (weighing 30% of the overall score)

Twenty-seven relevant metrics were graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for job-market entrants. Under professional opportunities, WalletHub evaluated data such as the availability of entry-level jobs, starting salaries and median income growth. And for quality of life, the personal finance site evaluated commute times, average length of a work week and housing affordability.

According to the report, the following 10 cities top the list of worst cities to start a career comparing 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state.