America’s cities reflect a widening economic divide. While hubs like Raleigh and Nashville flourish with innovation-driven growth, others—such as Bakersfield, Scranton, McAllen, Fresno, Memphis, and Jackson—struggle with high unemployment, stagnant wages, and limited industry diversity. Checkr’s analysis, based on federal data, warns that without new investment and emerging sectors, these cities risk prolonged stagnation amid a growing national economy.
