Adam McCann, Financial Writer

Jan 3, 2020

With 2019 behind us, it’s time to think about fresh starts, whether that means small changes or a complete life overhaul. For many people, finding a new or better job will be a top resolution.

If that’s your mission for the new year, it’s a good time to be on the job market. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent jobs report, the national unemployment rate is 3.6 percent, just a bit higher than the 50-year low of 3.5% seen in September 2019.

College graduates, especially, will see a strong boost in their job prospects. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers plan to hire 5.8 percent more members from the Class of 2020 than from the previous graduating cohort.

But your luck of finding work depends largely on location. To help you with the job hunt, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 31 key indicators of job-market strength. They range from job opportunities to employment growth to monthly average starting salary. Read on for our findings, additional insight from our panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.

Main Findings

Best Places to Find a Job

Overall Rank

(1 = Best) City Total Score ‘Job Market’ Rank ‘Socio-economics’ Rank 1 Scottsdale, AZ 65.50 2 4 2 South Burlington, VT 65.47 1 10 3 San Francisco, CA 63.17 3 30 4 Austin, TX 61.82 6 21 5 Fremont, CA 61.53 4 67 6 Chandler, AZ 60.99 8 13 7 Boston, MA 60.44 5 64 8 Tempe, AZ 60.07 14 11 9 Portland, ME 60.04 10 26 10 Boise, ID 59.29 19 8 11 Overland Park, KS 58.65 21 15 12 Plano, TX 58.59 17 28 13 Pittsburgh, PA 58.54 36 7 14 Pearl City, HI 58.46 7 85 15 San Jose, CA 58.44 9 73 16 Charleston, SC 58.42 18 34 17 Cedar Rapids, IA 58.38 30 9 18 Orlando, FL 58.35 15 47 19 Nashua, NH 58.32 27 16 20 Gilbert, AZ 57.93 16 48 21 Seattle, WA 57.62 37 19 22 Huntington Beach, CA 57.50 24 43 23 Columbia, MD 57.44 52 6 24 Reno, NV 57.36 20 51 25 Salt Lake City, UT 57.22 35 35 26 Atlanta, GA 57.19 34 36 27 Colorado Springs, CO 57.17 29 44 28 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 57.16 23 57 29 San Diego, CA 57.09 39 25 30 Huntsville, AL 56.96 11 112 31 Glendale, AZ 56.69 12 113 32 Irvine, CA 56.57 47 22 33 Irving, TX 56.54 13 115 34 Denver, CO 56.44 41 33 35 Peoria, AZ 56.44 28 69 36 Sacramento, CA 56.17 38 58 37 Virginia Beach, VA 56.17 57 14 38 Lincoln, NE 56.11 61 12 39 Garden Grove, CA 56.08 40 50 40 Madison, WI 56.06 72 3 41 Grand Prairie, TX 55.99 31 82 42 Amarillo, TX 55.96 25 86 43 Tampa, FL 55.95 58 20 44 Minneapolis, MN 55.79 80 2 45 Des Moines, IA 55.77 43 49 46 Wilmington, DE 55.47 26 100 47 Manchester, NH 55.33 48 59 48 Raleigh, NC 55.16 56 42 49 St. Petersburg, FL 54.98 45 66 50 Washington, DC 54.90 62 37 51 Warwick, RI 54.82 65 31 52 Nashville, TN 54.47 32 123 53 Phoenix, AZ 54.32 49 76 54 Honolulu, HI 54.30 78 27 55 Mesa, AZ 54.19 44 94 56 Burlington, VT 54.19 124 1 57 West Valley City, UT 54.15 64 52 58 Portland, OR 54.14 82 24 59 Grand Rapids, MI 54.10 74 39 60 Las Vegas, NV 54.01 81 31 61 Aurora, CO 53.80 33 144 62 Durham, NC 53.58 46 102 63 Chesapeake, VA 53.57 77 54 64 Oakland, CA 53.52 22 165 65 St. Paul, MN 53.32 106 23 66 Bismarck, ND 53.21 131 5 67 Omaha, NE 53.16 112 17 68 San Antonio, TX 53.11 68 79 69 Richmond, VA 52.99 66 90 70 Sioux Falls, SD 52.85 108 38 71 Henderson, NV 52.81 94 46 72 Columbus, OH 52.75 107 40 73 Santa Rosa, CA 52.57 60 104 74 Oceanside, CA 52.45 51 147 75 Jacksonville, FL 52.28 73 93 75 Anaheim, CA 52.28 67 99 77 Billings, MT 52.21 102 61 78 Chula Vista, CA 52.12 53 143 79 Casper, WY 52.09 109 56 80 Worcester, MA 52.07 85 84 81 Ontario, CA 52.06 55 151 82 Tacoma, WA 52.03 83 91 83 Rapid City, SD 51.97 119 41 84 Chattanooga, TN 51.97 42 171 85 Yonkers, NY 51.97 98 65 86 Pembroke Pines, FL 51.90 79 98 87 Juneau, AK 51.85 90 77 88 Arlington, TX 51.83 59 140 89 Santa Ana, CA 51.68 69 122 90 Fort Lauderdale, FL 51.67 75 118 91 Fort Worth, TX 51.47 89 92 92 Wichita, KS 51.45 50 162 93 Glendale, CA 51.41 96 87 94 Vancouver, WA 51.36 86 106 95 Garland, TX 51.31 63 148 96 Newport News, VA 51.22 76 136 97 Tucson, AZ 51.18 110 81 98 Fontana, CA 51.15 87 107 99 Cheyenne, WY 51.15 135 29 100 Tallahassee, FL 51.12 113 74 101 Spokane, WA 51.08 91 101 102 Houston, TX 51.00 84 120 103 Aurora, IL 50.83 120 71 104 Charlotte, NC 50.78 105 97 105 Tulsa, OK 50.78 71 152 106 Oklahoma City, OK 50.76 114 83 107 Cincinnati, OH 50.70 134 45 108 Nampa, ID 50.68 99 116 109 Riverside, CA 50.59 88 128 110 Fargo, ND 50.40 149 18 111 Dallas, TX 50.36 93 125 112 Little Rock, AR 50.36 70 169 113 Port St. Lucie, FL 50.32 104 121 114 Birmingham, AL 50.31 54 175 115 Cape Coral, FL 50.18 117 103 116 Lewiston, ME 50.16 123 88 117 Greensboro, NC 50.00 116 109 118 Louisville, KY 49.95 115 108 119 Columbia, SC 49.95 121 95 120 Baton Rouge, LA 49.94 92 149 121 St. Louis, MO 49.91 118 105 122 Dover, DE 49.85 95 137 123 Corpus Christi, TX 49.80 103 126 124 Kansas City, MO 49.75 111 124 125 Miami, FL 49.68 97 145 126 Fort Wayne, IN 49.50 100 138 127 Los Angeles, CA 49.49 132 89 128 Salem, OR 49.49 139 68 129 Santa Clarita, CA 49.49 138 70 130 Knoxville, TN 49.23 129 111 131 Long Beach, CA 48.83 130 117 132 Mobile, AL 48.78 101 170 133 Lubbock, TX 48.51 125 134 134 Norfolk, VA 48.48 127 141 135 Albuquerque, NM 48.45 136 110 136 Jersey City, NJ 48.32 161 53 137 North Las Vegas, NV 48.29 133 129 138 El Paso, TX 48.05 153 72 139 Charleston, WV 48.03 137 131 140 Lexington-Fayette, KY 48.00 162 62 141 Winston-Salem, NC 47.99 126 166 142 Chicago, IL 47.91 164 60 143 New York, NY 47.90 154 75 144 Montgomery, AL 47.81 122 161 145 Moreno Valley, CA 47.77 128 160 146 Modesto, CA 47.53 141 133 147 Milwaukee, WI 47.37 146 114 148 Providence, RI 47.02 165 78 149 Missoula, MT 47.01 172 55 150 Bakersfield, CA 46.85 147 130 151 Philadelphia, PA 46.62 151 127 152 Buffalo, NY 46.53 168 80 153 Columbus, GA 46.26 143 163 154 Rochester, NY 46.16 174 63 155 Fort Smith, AR 46.03 144 167 156 Oxnard, CA 45.98 160 132 157 Springfield, MO 45.92 152 153 158 New Orleans, LA 45.88 157 142 159 Augusta, GA 45.72 148 173 160 Baltimore, MD 45.71 145 168 161 Las Cruces, NM 45.70 167 119 162 New Haven, CT 45.49 169 96 163 Akron, OH 45.37 166 139 164 Memphis, TN 45.20 140 180 165 Fresno, CA 45.17 155 159 166 Indianapolis, IN 44.82 159 164 167 Laredo, TX 44.67 163 157 168 Bridgeport, CT 44.61 171 135 169 San Bernardino, CA 44.15 150 176 170 Jackson, MS 44.07 156 177 171 Hialeah, FL 44.06 142 181 172 Shreveport, LA 43.90 158 178 173 Cleveland, OH 43.56 173 158 174 Anchorage, AK 42.92 177 150 175 Gulfport, MS 42.73 170 174 176 Toledo, OH 42.35 176 172 177 Huntington, WV 41.94 178 154 178 Brownsville, TX 41.33 179 156 179 Stockton, CA 41.27 175 179 180 Newark, NJ 40.43 182 146 181 Fayetteville, NC 40.19 181 155 182 Detroit, MI 38.40 180 182

Ask the Experts

Although the employment projections for 2020 appear to be promising, the job-hunting process can still be scary, especially for those entering the workforce for the first time or facing particular obstacles. To ease the burden on job seekers, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What is your prediction for the job market in 2020?

What impact will the current administration’s policies have on job growth?

Which fields are expected to grow the most in the coming years?

Recent evidence suggests fewer people are moving across state lines in search for work. Why do you think this is, and what can be done to increase geographic mobility?

What are the most common mistakes job seekers make when seeking employment?

What types of programs have proven effective in helping unemployed individuals find work?

Should unemployed people be required to do something in order to earn their unemployment benefits? If so, what?

Methodology

In order to determine the best job markets in the U.S., WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions, “Job Market” and “Socio-economics.” We assigned a heavier weight to the former, considering the fact that factors in that category most heavily influence a job seeker’s decision in terms of relocation for employment.

We then evaluated the two dimensions using 31 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for job seekers. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at state level only.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.

Job Market – Total Points: 80

Job Opportunities: Double Weight (~6.53 Points)

Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Number of Job Openings per Number of Population in Labor Force Minus Unemployment Rate.

Employment Growth: Double Weight (~6.53 Points)

Note: This metric measures the rate of annual job growth adjusted by the working-age population growth.

Monthly Average Starting Salary: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~6.53 Points)

Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Industry Variety: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Employment Outlook: Double Weight (~6.53 Points)

Note: This metric is based on the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

Automation Risk: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Note: This metric measures the share of jobs at risk for automation.

Job Security: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Note: This metric was calculated as follows: (Number of Employees in 2018 – Number of Employees in 2017) / Number of Employees in 2017.

Job Satisfaction: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Share of Engaged Workers*: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Note: This metric is based on Gallup’s “State of the American Workplace” report. Gallup defines engaged employees as those who are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.

Retirement Access & Participation: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Note: This metric considers only employer-based retirement plans.

Access to Employee Benefits: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Note: This metric measures the share of employees with private health insurance.

Presence of Work-Share Programs*: Half Weight (~1.63 Points)

Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of state programs that allow employers to temporarily reduce work hours of employees instead of laying them off during economic downturns.

State’s Statute on Hiring Based on Salary History*: Half Weight (~1.63 Points)

Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of salary history bans in a state.

Full-Time Employment: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Note: This metric measures the number of part-time employees for every 100 full-time employees.

Access to Internships: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Note: This metric measures the number of internships per total civilian population aged 16 to 24 years in the labor force.

4+ Star Job Opportunities per Total People in Labor Force: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Note: This metric measures the number of job opportunities at 4+ star rated companies on Glasssdoor.com per the total people in the labor force.

Apprentice-Trainee Jobs as Share of Total Jobs Posted on Glassdoor.com: Half Weight (~1.63 Points)

Note: Apprentice-trainee jobs refers to on-the-job training.

Share of Workers in Poverty: Double Weight (~6.53 Points)

Note: This metric measures the share of employed residents whose incomes are below the poverty line.

Disability-Friendliness of Employers: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)

Note: This metric measures the share of persons with disabilities who are employed.

Socio-economics – Total Points: 20

Median Annual Income: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.

Average Work & Commute Time: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Note: This metric measures the average length of a workday and the average commute time.

Transit Accessibility of Workplace: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Note: This metric measures the number of jobs accessible by a 30-minute transit ride per total civilian workforce.

Transit Score: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Note: Transit Score is a patented measure of how well a location is served by public transit.

Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Housing Costs (accounts for both rental and sale prices) / Median Annual Household Income.

Annual Transportation Costs: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Safety: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Note: This metric measures the crime rate.

Family-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “ Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family ” ranking.

Dating-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “ Best & Worst Cities for Singles ” ranking.

Recreation-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “ Best & Worst Cities for Recreation ” ranking.



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Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Indeed, Center for Neighborhood Technology, The Pew Charitable Trusts, National Conference of State Legislatures, Glassdoor, ManpowerGroup, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Chegg, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Gallup-Sharecare, Industry Dive, Walk Score and WalletHub research.

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