Quintessential Careers Blog

Can your zip code determine your job prospects? The answer is yes, and the power of geography may be stronger than you realize.

 

Economic disparity is, sadly,  signature aspect of modern life. While attention has focused on inequality in net worth and income, disparities extend much further. Far too often, opportunity, education, safety, clean water, clean air, and even freedom from noise pollution are granted to those who already have. The have-nots, however, are left to struggle against headwinds that slow progress towards health, security, and stability.

 

The job search is affected as well. A recent study produced by the Economic Innovation Group reveals distinct variations in job search outcome based on zip codes. Areas that showed higher indicators of “distressed community” status have been slow to recover from the 2008 recession. As time passes and full recovery fails to occur, businesses in these communities close while houses stand unoccupied or undervalued. Job seekers in these areas spend more time on the market, digging into their emergency resources and incurring longer (and more damaging gaps) in their resumes.

 

If you live in, or plan to move to, one of these areas, what does this mean for you? Likewise, what does this mean if you live in a more secure area? Or somewhere in between?  

 

Knowledge is power

 

Economic Innovation Group recently released a study to compare employment, median salary, educational attainment, and health indicators against national averages. According to the results of the study, the most distressed cities include Camden NJ, Cleveland OH, and Gary IN. The three most “prosperous” cities, based on this data, are all in Texas: Flower Mound, Allen, and Frisco. But the data crosscuts across several factors, so you’ll want to review it on your own to assess your specific prospects.

 

Balance cost and benefits

 

Some job seekers are attracted to a specific city due to the very factors that may render the city  “distressed,” such as lower cost of living. At the same time, cities with high salary averages and expensive housing—such as LA, New York, and San Francisco—may bring the opposite effect; these cities offer a doorway into promising industries, but at a cost. These industries may be hard to break into; in the meantime, job seekers may find themselves struggling with unaffordable housing which can dramatically undermine quality of life.  

 

Personal preferences

 

Contemplate what matters to you. If you aren’t worried about the cost of housing, that may alter your interpretation of these numbers. If you aren’t swayed by the future of the tech industry, that may also influence your decision to target your search towards a specific region.

 

Family considerations, health issues, and lifestyle choices also matter. If you can’t bear cold winters, a “promising” city in Minnesota is not a wise choice for you.. A slightly more “distressed” city further south may make you far happier in the long run; if you’re feeling your best, you’ll be more likely to impress your employers, gather opportunities, climb the ladder in your chosen field, and thrive in general. If you have to choose between the broad data and your own goals and self-knowledge, base your decision on the latter point..  

 

Build your job search around your goals and passions, but remember that where you’re coming from can influence your future Where you head next will influence the life that takes shape around you in the near and distant future. Visit Quintcareers for more ideas, tools, and perspective as you map out the path of your long term career.