2025 Compare Cities Job Market:
Bakersfield, CA vs West Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Job Growth in West Des Moines has been positive.
- West Des Moines has 4.7% more unemployment than Bakersfield.
- West Des Moines job growth has increased by 13.7% in the past 10 years.
 Bakersfield, CAWest Des Moines, IAUnited States
 Current Unemployment  Unlock3.3%6.0%
 Future Job Growth24.2%  Unlock33.5%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock-6.0%-6.2%
 3 Yr. Job Growth-3.7%  Unlock-3.6%
 5 Yr. Job Growth  Unlock2.0%-0.7%
 10 Yr. Job Growth10.6%  Unlock6.3%
Reviews for Bakersfield    75 Reviews

I am a millennial, born and raised here. As someone who wrestled with staying for years, there are a lot of valid reasons to not come to Bakersfield. Air quality, summer  More

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Over 4 years ago

I have lived here all of my life. 40+ years. It used to be fun and kinda safe but now it is so scary to go outside. We are literally a homeless dumping ground and there  More

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I moved here from Seattle 25 years ago, when it had a population of 200,000, and practically the only place to get coffee was a place called “Duke’s Ranch”. Why did I  More

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Reviews for West Des Moines    4 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

I just moved here from out-of-state a few months ago and have been pleasantly surprised by the broad range of activities and amenities available in this medium sized IA  More

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Over 16 years ago

Am contemplating a move to WDM from the East Coast (NYC). Might there be anyone out there that may have experienced this and could offer guidance or comment. Thanks.   More

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We just moved to West Des Moines and we love it here! We moved here three months ago and every weekend we have been able to do something different and fun. There is  More

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