2026 Compare Cities Job Market:
West Des Moines, IA vs Lake Forest, CA

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Highlights
- Job Growth in Lake Forest has been positive.
- Lake Forest has 2.3% less unemployment than West Des Moines.
- Lake Forest job growth has increased by 7.2% in the past 10 years.
 West Des Moines, IALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Current Unemployment  Unlock5.6%6.0%
 Future Job Growth35.2%  Unlock33.5%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock-9.6%-6.2%
 3 Yr. Job Growth0.1%  Unlock-3.6%
 5 Yr. Job Growth  Unlock-3.1%-0.7%
 10 Yr. Job Growth13.7%  Unlock6.3%
Reviews for West Des Moines    4 Reviews

Over 17 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 17 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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Reviews for Lake Forest    16 Reviews

I've lived in Lake Forest for over a decade, before that elsewhere in OC and also up in LA. Lake Forest isn't perfect but it's really improved over the past decade,  More

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As a retired senior who has lived in Lake Forest (formerly El Toro) since 1977 I think LF is a great place if you can afford it. When we moved here in June '77 homes  More

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I’ve lived here for 2 years. Ok, it’s more like a 4 but there are so many idiots downplaying what it’s like here and giving Lake Forest ones and twos. There are a lot of  More

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