I despise being the bearer of bad news. But let’s face it. Not everything can be good all the time. And someone has to do it.

The most we can do is embrace the negative while reminding ourselves to look for the positive. There’s a little bit of positive in everything if you search hard enough. If you can’t find it, take another gander.

On January 25th, the Labor Department stated that the unemployment rate rose in 20 states and fell in 15. It was unchanged in another 15 states. This rate is eerily close to the rate last November, which goes to show that the job market is barely improving, even though the economy is growing. Hiring is expected to pick up this year, but unfortunately the unemployment rate is likely to remain high.

Employers aren’t helping the situation either- as of last month, they have added little to no jobs. The number of jobs on employer payrolls fell in 35 states in December, while only 15 states have reported gains. Not looking too hot, huh?

On the bright side, good ol’ Texas and South Carolina reported the largest net job gains in December. Texas added 20,000 positions and South Carolina gained 9,000. Yep, you’re welcome!

It may be wise to steer clear of Nevada though. Due to the massive housing bust, they now hold the nation’s highest unemployment rate at 14.5%. California reported the second highest rate at 12.5%, followed by Florida at 12%. (I know, I was shocked by this as well.)

On the up-side, North Dakota had an extremely low unemployment rate in December, at 3.8%, one of the nation’s lowest! Nebraska and South Dakota weren’t far behind, with rates of 4.4% and 4.6% respectively.

Now, this isn’t meant to be a downer post. This is more of a what-job-to-choose-and-where-to-live realization post. Just because unemployment rates are extremely low in Nevada, California, and Florida doesn’t mean you won’t land a job there. Likewise, just because Texas and South Carolina added tons of jobs doesn’t necessarily mean landing one will be a piece of cake. You just never know.

In order to convert this message from a mostly negative one to a positive one, just remember one thing. While some states are suffering, others are not. Just be smart when it comes to which one you choose. Trust me, you’ll be happy you did.