Surprising Job Survey Places Lubbock In The Middle Of The Pack

I really expected Lubbock to perform better in a recent jobs survey.

 Historically, Lubbock tends to weather economic ups and downs better than most places. When other cities boom or bust, we usually stay pretty steady. That kind of consistency has always been one of our quiet strengths, which is why this latest ranking caught me off guard.

Out of 182 job markets nationwide, Lubbock landed at #104. That’s not disastrous, but it’s also not something the Chamber of Commerce is going to laminate and hang on the wall. It’s what the kids would call mid—perfectly average, uninspiring, and a little disappointing for a city that prides itself on stability.

The rankings come from a study commissioned by WalletHub, which evaluated cities using two main categories: Job Market and Socio-Economic Environment. Those broad categories were built from smaller data points like job opportunities, industry variety, and economic mobility. When everything was tallied up, the conclusion was simple: Lubbock is an okay place to look for work—but not a standout.

Where the Worst Markets Are Right Now

Let's start by doing the snarky thing, and look at the worst places to try to find a job. Coming at at #1 on the worst list is Detroit, Michigan, followed by Memphis, Tennesee, and Stockton, California. If you're looking for a job in any of those places, you can expect a very tough time.

Where the Best Job Markets Are Right Now

If you’re job-hunting and hoping to boost your odds without leaving Texas, the data points to a few clear winners. Cities like Plano (#7), Austin (#9), Irving (#18), and Grand Prairie (#24) all ranked significantly higher than Lubbock.

If you’re open to leaving Texas entirely, Arizona dominated the top of the list. Scottsdale claimed the #1 spot, followed by Chandler (#14), Gilbert (#28), and Tempe (#30).

None of this means Lubbock is failing—it just means we’re coasting. And for a city built on resilience, “coasting” might be the most uncomfortable ranking of all.