With the employment picture finally perking up in some major metropolitan areas, job seekers might be tempted to limit their job search to the areas with the healthiest employment numbers. But low unemployment doesn’t always mean it’s the best place for finding a job.
While cities with low unemployment might be the easiest areas for some to land a job, there may be little diversity in the industries hiring, the cost of living can be high, and the required skill sets can be too specific.
The human resources firm Adecco Staffing U.S. looked at the U.S. cities with the fullest employment, according to the Department of Labor, as well as internal data around job growth and demand, and then determined which areas are the best for finding a job. The ranking reflects considerations such as: the diversity of industries in the city, the cost of living, the range in size of companies offering employment, and high level of education among its residents. All those factors were weighed equally.
In Pictures: The Best Cities For Finding Employment Right Now
The top spot goes to the Washington, D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria, Va. metro area, where the unemployment rate is 5.5%, as of March 2012. From March 2011 to March 2012, the unemployment level dropped by .3%, indicating that an already strong market is improving.
“Washington, D.C. and Arlington both have a large population of degreed individuals which matches the skill sets that are seeing the most demand right now; business and professional services, engineering and healthcare,” says Bob Kovalsky, a senior vice president of Adecco Staffing. “Additionally, the proximity to Washington, D.C. means a large number of organizations have local ties or offices in the area, regardless of industry.”
In terms of a quality of life, the area offers strong school systems, consistent mass transit, which makes for easy commuting, and a number of colleges and universities, Kovalsky adds.
The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas area, which has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, holds the No. 2 spot. “Austin has really become known as a great place to live as the city is known for its diversity and cultural activities,” says Kristy Willis, a senior vice president at Adecco Staffing. “This combination has encouraged companies to flock to the area as a high level of local universities ensures a large, highly skilled pool of talent.”
Austin, which is home to the University of Texas and many other higher education institutions, is just one of many college towns in which local businesses do heavy recruiting locally, knowing that there are plenty of educated, talented candidates in the area.
No 3. Ithaca is another example of city with a diverse and highly educated labor force. With unemployment at 5.9%, Ithaca remains one of the few expanding economies in New York, according to Adecco.
“Ithaca shares the same characteristic of Austin and the Washington, D.C. area of having a number of colleges and universities close by, and the area is seeing strong growth in the technology and biotech sectors,” says Lauren Griffin, a senior vice president at Adecco Staffing. Cornell University also conducts a good amount of research in the area which increases employment, she adds.
Ithaca's top hiring industries right now are education, manufacturing, tourism and technology.
“With all these cities having unemployment rates below the national average, it certainly shows that a job seeker doesn’t need to live in one of the United State’s top large cities to find job opportunities,” says Janette Marx, a senior vice president at Adecco Staffing. “From a national perspective, those Americans with a college degree that are looking for work are at a higher advantage, particularly in the sectors we’re seeing demand in.”
Click here to see the complete list of The 10 Best Cities For Finding Employment Right Now.
