The Dallas/Ft. Worth area has plenty of jobs, most at decent wages and a low cost of living (especially real estate) which is why we’re trying to move back there ASAP. You can’t buy a good job here.
Oh, that’s interesting!
The Phoenix area was a bit harder hit, but I still see good, private jobs up there in the software field (70+ even with smaller companies). And where they need software developers, web designers, graphic artists, tech writers, testers, they have a need for office/admin staff.
Tucson’s always been a low-wage, service town, so in a way, I would say, it’s a bit more recession-proof. Houses are back to more normal prices too, the way they were 12-15 years ago.