A new report by WalletHub has ranked the best cities for jobs in the U.S. analyzing the markets using a number of factors, including starting salary and opportunity for growth.
Why It Matters
Choosing the right city to seek out a job can be key for a number of people new to the career market or looking to restart. With factors like economic growth, job availability, average salaries, and work-life balance varying across the country, some cities stand out as places where conditions could be better for advancing or beginning a career.
For its rankings, the professional finance company WalletHub analyzed 182 cities, including the 150 most populous in the U.S. and at least two of the largest cities in each state, across what it calls two primary dimensions: "Job Market" and "Socio-economics." Greater emphasis was placed on the "Job Market" category, as WalletHub says that its factors play the most significant role in influencing job seekers' decisions about relocating for employment.
What To Know
Claiming the top spot in the analysis was Scottsdale, Arizona.
WalletHub said this was largely due to the city having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S.
It also ranked first in terms of paid internship opportunities, the report said.
Adjusted for cost of living, the city had one of the highest median household incomes, at over $102,000.
Scottsdale was also noted for its low crime rate and being one of the best cities for families.
Coming in second was Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh boasts the highest number of job opportunities per capita and ranks third in full-time job opportunities per capita at companies with 4.5+ star ratings on Glassdoor, a website where current and former employees can review different workplaces.
WalletHub also said the city's residents had the ninth-highest level of job satisfaction in the county, as well as jobs in the city offering good benefits. It had the fourth-highest percentage of workers with access to an employer-based retirement program.
Pittsburgh also offered convenience for workers with the 11th-best public transit system.
In third on the list was Columbia, Maryland.
The report said that at $124,000 adjusted for the cost of living, Columbia had the highest median household income in the country.
It ranked fourth in terms of employment outlook—the quarterly percentage of employers who expect to add employees minus the percentage who expect to have fewer of them—as well.
Columbia was noted for having one of the most affordable rental markets in the U.S., as well as one of the lowest shares of jobs at risk from automation in the coming years.
The cities that made it into the top 10 were:
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Pittsburgh
- Columbia, Maryland
- South Burlington, Vermont
- Portland, Maine
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Chandler, Arizona
- Washington, D.C.
- Tempe, Arizona
- Orlando, Florida
What People Are Saying
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report: "It's important to look at more than just the number of jobs available or the unemployment rate when determining the best place to find employment. Quality matters just as much as quantity, from the average salaries and benefits to job security and overall satisfaction.
"There are plenty of secondary factors to take into account as well, from how easy a city makes commuting to jobs to whether it's a good place for raising a family or engaging in recreational activities outside of work."
What Happens Next
WalletHub publishes its "Best Cities for Jobs" report annually.
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