According to a recent CNN article, Sioux Falls is now the best city in the United States to find a job.

Who would’ve thunk that Sioux Falls would beat out DC when it comes to job-hunting!  To my surprise, this list is top-heavy with towns in North and South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and even West Virginia.  I’m curious to hear from deaf folks living in Sioux Falls (as well as the other top-25 towns) whether they’ve had more luck finding jobs in these smaller towns than in the larger towns like DC, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and others.

Last Sunday, Obama announced a plan to create 2.5 million jobs to rebuild the nation’s decaying transportation infrastructure, modernize schools, and create more alternative energy sources.  I’m only speculating, but I think these jobs will be created largely in large towns and small cities in the nation’s heartland stretching from the Appalachians to the Rockies; this area has been hit disproportionately hard by the declining economy.  Some towns and cities will be selected to be hubs where transportation improvement will radiate outward (and who wants to bet that Minneapolis / St. Paul, the site of a disastrous bride collapse, will be one of these hubs).  Education funds will flow to older towns as well, improving schools nearby.  And research centers (like Frederick, MD and its research hub for solar energy) for alternative energy sources will be established or expanded.

Thus, both blue and white collar workers will benefit as research expands, construction contracts are created, engineers and architects are called in, and, of course, lawyers as well.  Then restaurants and businesses nearby will experience booms, construction stores (like Lowes and Home Depot) will see business improve, and so on.  And they, in turn, will hire more people — further expanding the economy in these areas (and elsewhere).

Certainly much more beneficial to “the people” than abstract billions of dollars being spent to bail out insurance companies and banks.  Let’s hope Obama’s plan does get passed in Congress and is ready for Obama’s signature on January 20th.

Here’re the top 25, in descending order (again, from the CNN article):

1. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
   Unemployment rate: 2.4 percent
   Last year: 2.3 percent
   Job growth: 2.1 percent
2. Rapid City, South Dakota
   Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
   Last year: 2.6 percent
   Job growth: 1 percent
3. Idaho Falls, Idaho
   Unemployment rate: 2.5 percent
   Last year: 1.6 percent
   Job growth: N/A
4. Bismarck, North Dakota
   Unemployment rate: 2.6 percent
   Last year: 2.5 percent
   Job growth: 2.2 percent
5. Houma, Louisiana
   Unemployment rate: 2.7 percent
   Last year: 2.9 percent
   Job growth: 1.1 percent
6. Morgantown, West Virginia
   Unemployment rate: 2.8 percent
   Last year: 3.4 percent
   Job growth: 1.8 percent
7. Logan, Utah
   Unemployment rate: 2.8 percent
   Last year: 2.3 percent
   Job growth: N/A
8. Fargo, North Dakota
   Unemployment rate: 2.9 percent
   Last year: 2.6 percent
   Job growth: 1.6 percent
9. Casper, Wyoming
   Unemployment rate: 2.9 percent
   Last year: 2.7 percent
   Job growth: N/A
10. Billings, Montana
    Unemployment rate: 3.0 percent
    Last year: 2.3 percent
    Job growth: 2.9 percent
11. Ames, Iowa
    Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent
    Last year: 2.8 percent
    Job growth: N/A
12. Lafayette, Louisiana
    Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent
    Last year: 3.1 percent
    Job growth: 2.8 percent
13. Midland, Texas
    Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent
    Last year: 3.2 percent
    Job growth: 2.4 percent
14. Iowa City, Iowa
    Unemployment rate: 3.2 percent
    Last year: 2.8 percent
    Job growth: 0.7 percent
15. Lincoln, Nebraska
    Unemployment rate: 3.3 percent
    Last year: 3.2 percent
    Job growth: 1.4 percent
16. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
    Unemployment rate: 3.3 percent
    Last year: 3.1 percent
    Job growth: 2.8 percent
17. Great Falls, Montana
    Unemployment rate: 3.4 percent
    Last year: 2.7 percent
    Job growth: N/A
18. Charlestown, West Virginia
    Unemployment rate: 3.4 percent
    Last year: 4.1 percent
    Job growth: 1 percent
19. Des Moines, Iowa
    Unemployment rate: 3.5 percent
    Last year: 3.1 percent
    Job growth: 1.2 percent
20. Missoula, Montana
    Unemployment rate: 3.5 percent
    Last year: 2.6 percent
    Job growth: -0.3 percent
21. Salt Lake City, Utah
    Unemployment rate: 3.5 percent
    Last year: 2.7 percent
    Job growth: 2.2 percent
22. Provo, Utah
    Unemployment rate: 3.6 percent
    Last year: 2.8 percent
    Job growth: 1.2 percent
23. Odessa, Texas
    Unemployment rate: 3.7 percent
    Last year: 3.8 percent
    Job growth: 4.4 percent
24. Pocatello, Idaho
    Unemployment rate: 3.7 percent
    Last year: 2.4 percent
    Job growth: N/A
25. Sioux City, Iowa
    Unemployment rate: 3.7 percent
    Last year: 3.6 percent
    Job growth: -1.9 percent