The US job market is super strong going into 2020. At 3.6%, the unemployment rate is at the lowest in about five decades. Businesses large and small are adding more jobs than before. If you are in the job market, this year looks quite promising. However, your ability to get a new or better job depends on your location. Here we take a look at the top 10 best cities to find jobs in 2020.
Personal finance website WalletHub compared 182 cities across the United States based on 31 data points to rank them on their job-market strength. The data points include job opportunities, employment growth, average starting salary, job satisfaction, median household income, average commute to work, and more.
Then it ranked cities in two sub-categories – Job Market and Socio-economics. Large cities with rapid hiring growth such as Boston and San Francisco made it to the top ten. The ranking also includes a number of small and mid-sized cities.
10- Boise, Idaho
Boise is the 10th best city to find jobs in 2020. The City of Trees has become an attractive destination for people fleeing ridiculously expensive coastal cities. Boise ranked 3rd for the highest employment growth in the US. It was ranked 19th for Job Market and 8th for Socio-economics. It received a total score of 59.29.
9- Portland, Maine
The economic capital of Maine received a score of 60.04. It was ranked 10th for Job Market and 26th for Socio-economics. The port city benefits from its proximity to Boston. Portland’s economy has shifted from fishing and agriculture towards manufacturing and service-based.
8- Tempe, Arizona
The Southwestern state of Arizona has a booming job market. Three out of top 10 best cities to find jobs are located in Arizona. Tempe ranked 9th with a score of 60.07. It was ranked 11th for Socio-economics and 14th for Job Market. Tempe is home to a number of large corporations.
7- Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is home to two of the world’s most reputed educational institutions. The city also has a strong startup ecosystem. Boston occupied the 7th spot with a score of 60.44 despite its low Socio-economics ranking at 64th place. Its Job Market ranking was 5th. Boston has low unemployment rates and high average starting salaries.
6- Chandler, Arizona
Chandler is a suburb in the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is among cities with the highest median annual income. It received a total score of 60.99. Chandler ranked 8th for Job Market and 13th for Socio-economics.
5- Fremont, California
Fremont is one of the happiest and hardest-working cities in the United States. It ranked 4th for Job Market and 67th for Socio-economics. Some of the biggest employers in the city are Tesla, Lam Research Corporation, and Western Digital. It received a total score of 61.53. Fremont has the highest monthly average starting salary.
4- Austin, Texas
Austin is the fastest growing large city in the United States. The Live Music Capital of the World is also one of the favorite places of retirees. It is the 4th best city to find jobs in 2020 with a score of 61.82. It was ranked 6th for Job Market and 21st for Socio-economics.
3- San Francisco, California
The San Francisco Bay area hasn’t done well in the Socio-economics category due to the high cost of housing. People in the San Francisco Bay area are paid pretty well. It received a total score of 63.17. San Francisco ranked 3rd for Job Market and 30th for Socio-economics. The city has very low unemployment rates.
2- South Burlington, Vermont
South Burlington has an estimated population of only 20,000. The city has a service-based economy. It has the lowest unemployment rate in the country. South Burlington ranked 1st for Job Market and 10th for Socio-economics. It received a total score of 65.47.
1- Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is the best city to find jobs in 2020. It is part of the Greater Phoenix area in Arizona. The city received a total score of 65.50. It ranked 2nd for Job Market and 4th for Socio-economics. According to Glassdoor, there are more than 67,000 open positions in Scottsdale. It is among cities with the highest median annual income. According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in Scottsdale is $84,601 per year.
