RRicks,   employment opportunities by location is fairly subjective - my idea of a hot job market may be because my field is hot. It isn't so much a matter of a particular location that will yield a stable career but the job skillset itself.  For instance, I work with a project manager who resides in rural Minnesota. Because of her skillset she is able to work remotely and has never lacked for work. Most project managers must work on-site and that is usually in a large city somewhere other than Minnesota.  Since you are completing your education will you have enough education courses to pursue a teaching position? You should be able to get some help/guidance from you school's placement services. As for a teaching shortage, not sure about that, seems like that comes up wherever the cost of living is high. I have some contacts with my local school system and they tell me they have hundreds of applicants but only fill a handful of positions each year.

The areas of the country that are growing are southwest and southeast - and even those are not hot for every career ambition. As for using the internet for job searching that should not be your only tool. What the internet job sites are good for is for you to peruse the postings and research what is in demand and how your qualifications match up. 

Good luck to you.

Try Tennesse, Nashville area particularly. Teachers are in extreme shortage and the lifestyle in this area is fantastic. I relocated here from St. Louis 4 years ago and really enjoy the middle Tennessee area. Good Luck.

The Houston, Texas area is crying for teachers right now.  The oil industry is  also on fire; welders, engineers, CNC machinist jobs are not being filled because there are too many of them.  The restaurant industry and construction trades are also booming here.  Real estate is down some but not nearly like the rest of the country.    

Las Vegas, Nevada is so desperate for teachers that they have put advertisements in newspapers in California, Texas, and almost all other states up to Canada.

They offer relocation assistance, sign on bonuses and other perks. The problem is, so many other areas are hurting for qualified teachers that there are minimum takers as people prefer to stay in the area they are comfortable in.

Another, though little known problem, is that Clark County has been accused of turning away qualified candidates because the individual could not guarantee that they would stay  in Las Vegas for at least five years,

But, as a mother who has a child in this school system, I know just how badly the need for qualified teachers is and, through an experience with one of my child's previous teachers, I also am aware of the shock to the system people from colder climates get when they work here which makes them leave before the year is out.  

Thanks everyone!  This really has helped.  It's funny, I had looked into teaching in Houston previously.  I have also looked into other areas since reading these responses!  I appreciate all the help I can get!

Same here with the climate adjustments!  My school district is building at least one new school every year with no end in sight!  The population has doubled here since I moved down in 1987 and the illegals are putting their kids into schools in record numbers.