February 04, 2019

Best Places to Find a Job

Congratulations, Plano – You’ve Made the Top Ten!

Finding a job can be difficult. Especially in a big city like DFW area. It’s not easy to set yourself in the spotlight among many applicants. But, knowing the best places to look just got easier. WalletHub asked the experts and did some calculating to compile a list of the best cities to job hunt to make your options a little clearer.

Best Places to Find a Job

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	Job Market Rank	Socio-economics Rank
1	Scottsdale, AZ	66.58	2	6
2	Columbia, MD	65.78	4	5
3	Orlando, FL	64.76	1	48
4	San Francisco, CA	64.67	3	25
5	Colorado Springs, CO	62.85	6	42
6	Portland, ME	62.81	8	36
7	Plano, TX	62.62	5	55
8	Washington, DC	61.79	11	32
9	Boston, MA	61.70	7	73
10	Chandler, AZ	61.65	14	11
11	South Burlington, VT	61.45	15	10
12	Minneapolis, MN	60.98	20	3
13	Denver, CO	60.63	13	40
14	Tempe, AZ	60.41	19	9
15	Pittsburgh, PA	59.84	34	2
16	Austin, TX	59.73	17	27
17	Madison, WI	59.44	41	4
18	Atlanta, GA	59.40	16	49
19	Portland, OR	59.23	24	24
20	Overland Park, KS	58.94	31	17
21	Irving, TX	58.84	9	128
22	Seattle, WA	58.80	36	16
23	Nashua, NH	58.49	39	18
24	Fremont, CA	58.28	27	47
25	St. Paul, MN	58.26	43	19
26	Dallas, TX	58.23	12	117
27	Charleston, SC	58.23	33	26
28	San Diego, CA	58.00	37	28
29	Virginia Beach, VA	57.96	32	37
30	Boise, ID	57.95	52	7
31	Miami, FL	57.90	10	164
32	San Jose, CA	57.83	28	59
33	Salt Lake City, UT	57.78	38	35
34	Irvine, CA	57.71	44	23
35	Manchester, NH	57.59	30	52
36	Grand Prairie, TX	57.51	29	75
37	Tampa, FL	57.22	49	30
38	Burlington, VT	57.04	75	1
39	Gilbert, AZ	56.84	35	67
40	Pearl City, HI	56.80	23	87
41	Peoria, AZ	56.67	40	68
42	Jacksonville, FL	56.62	21	109
43	Fort Lauderdale, FL	56.41	18	135
44	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	56.37	57	20
45	Amarillo, TX	55.64	45	82
46	Garland, TX	55.61	26	133
47	Warwick, RI	55.58	65	31
48	Aurora, CO	55.48	22	148
49	Fargo, ND	55.46	80	13
50	Omaha, NE	55.44	79	14
51	Lincoln, NE	55.36	87	12
52	Grand Rapids, MI	55.35	62	43
53	Phoenix, AZ	55.25	54	66
54	Cedar Rapids, IA	55.16	90	8
55	Salem, OR	55.09	55	64
56	Sacramento, CA	55.08	56	60
57	Arlington, TX	55.05	25	153
58	Fort Worth, TX	55.01	42	114
59	Vancouver, WA	54.98	48	104
60	Des Moines, IA	54.64	70	53
61	Nashville, TN	54.54	50	105
62	Honolulu, HI	54.54	78	37
63	Raleigh, NC	54.49	68	57
64	Reno, NV	54.48	67	58
65	Mesa, AZ	54.36	58	77
66	St. Petersburg, FL	54.33	61	72
67	Chesapeake, VA	54.29	60	74
68	Glendale, AZ	54.26	47	126
69	Cincinnati, OH	53.94	81	50
70	Richmond, VA	53.67	66	101
71	Huntington Beach, CA	53.63	89	44
72	Chattanooga, TN	53.56	46	160
73	Columbus, OH	53.53	97	33
74	Tacoma, WA	53.51	69	90
75	Tallahassee, FL	53.48	76	70
76	West Valley City, UT	53.38	98	29
77	Bismarck, ND	53.30	107	15
78	Huntsville, AL	53.17	64	102
79	Pembroke Pines, FL	52.97	72	103
80	Little Rock, AR	52.86	51	154
81	Los Angeles, CA	52.83	73	93
82	Houston, TX	52.78	59	127
83	Newport News, VA	52.44	63	143
84	Sioux Falls, SD	52.43	119	22
85	New York, NY	52.40	85	86
86	San Antonio, TX	52.30	86	88
87	Santa Rosa, CA	52.23	74	113
88	Dover, DE	52.08	82	98
89	Baltimore, MD	51.70	53	173
90	Lexington-Fayette, KY	51.65	104	62
91	Lewiston, ME	51.60	95	91
92	Lubbock, TX	51.58	71	140
93	Durham, NC	51.56	83	116
94	Billings, MT	51.51	116	54
95	Columbia, SC	51.48	93	106
96	Rapid City, SD	51.36	123	41
97	Milwaukee, WI	51.35	94	108
98	Ontario, CA	51.23	88	124
99	Spokane, WA	51.14	102	85
100	Port St. Lucie, FL	51.08	92	118
101	Oceanside, CA	51.05	84	145
102	Charlotte, NC	50.87	101	94
103	Garden Grove, CA	50.70	128	34
104	Cheyenne, WY	50.70	127	45
105	Tucson, AZ	50.66	115	78
106	St. Louis, MO	50.66	100	112
107	Oakland, CA	50.61	77	158
108	Providence, RI	50.60	108	83
109	Fontana, CA	50.49	124	69
110	Glendale, CA	50.33	110	89
111	Worcester, MA	50.16	110	95
112	Knoxville, TN	49.87	120	99
113	Birmingham, AL	49.73	91	171
114	Las Vegas, NV	49.60	137	39
115	Norfolk, VA	49.54	96	162
116	Riverside, CA	49.53	106	119
117	Tulsa, OK	49.43	103	141
118	Long Beach, CA	49.39	105	125
119	Wilmington, DE	49.36	122	107
120	Indianapolis, IN	49.23	99	165
121	Kansas City, MO	49.22	121	110
122	Anaheim, CA	49.17	113	130
123	Chula Vista, CA	49.15	112	132
124	Baton Rouge, LA	49.10	114	139
125	Santa Ana, CA	49.02	118	123
126	Casper, WY	49.01	153	21
127	Nampa, ID	48.94	117	144
128	Juneau, AK	48.71	144	61
129	Louisville, KY	48.64	134	84
130	Santa Clarita, CA	48.55	136	79
131	Corpus Christi, TX	48.53	109	147
132	Chicago, IL	48.44	149	56
133	El Paso, TX	48.23	132	97
134	Oklahoma City, OK	48.21	139	81
135	Jersey City, NJ	47.82	157	46
136	Aurora, IL	47.56	154	65
137	Missoula, MT	47.51	159	51
138	Charleston, WV	47.22	133	138
139	Fort Smith, AR	47.06	126	167
140	Albuquerque, NM	47.06	143	111
141	Henderson, NV	47.05	158	63
142	Greensboro, NC	46.94	140	121
143	Akron, OH	46.88	142	122
144	Fort Wayne, IN	46.76	135	142
145	Cape Coral, FL	46.74	152	92
146	Rochester, NY	46.61	156	80
147	Wichita, KS	46.34	131	166
148	Montgomery, AL	46.30	130	168
149	Yonkers, NY	46.20	162	71
150	Moreno Valley, CA	45.94	141	157
151	Springfield, MO	45.92	146	151
152	Memphis, TN	45.82	129	181
153	Laredo, TX	45.77	145	150
154	Philadelphia, PA	45.74	151	134
155	Buffalo, NY	45.62	163	76
156	Columbus, GA	45.50	148	155
157	Modesto, CA	45.45	155	131
158	Mobile, AL	45.38	138	172
159	Hialeah, FL	45.07	125	182
160	Augusta, GA	44.61	150	178
161	Jackson, MS	44.54	147	177
162	Huntington, WV	43.90	165	136
163	Bridgeport, CT	43.68	164	149
164	San Bernardino, CA	43.64	160	163
165	New Haven, CT	43.50	174	96
166	Anchorage, AK	43.32	169	129
167	Oxnard, CA	43.23	172	115
168	Bakersfield, CA	42.88	175	120
169	Winston-Salem, NC	42.62	167	169
170	Cleveland, OH	42.45	168	161
171	New Orleans, LA	42.42	173	146
172	Gulfport, MS	42.32	166	175
173	Detroit, MI	42.19	161	180
174	North Las Vegas, NV	41.77	178	137
175	Fresno, CA	41.76	176	159
176	Stockton, CA	41.30	170	176
177	Brownsville, TX	41.25	177	156
178	Shreveport, LA	40.64	171	179
179	Toledo, OH	40.56	179	170
180	Newark, NJ	39.01	180	152
181	Las Cruces, NM	38.88	182	100
182	Fayetteville, NC	36.91	181	174

Best & Worst Cities for Jobs

State	Best & Worst Cities for Jobs Rank	Fastest Growing Cities Rank	Category
West Valley City, UT	76	307	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Scottsdale, AZ	1	59	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
San Francisco, CA	4	62	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Plano, TX	7	200	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Chandler, AZ	10	300	Mixed
Denver, CO	13	34	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Austin, TX	16	18	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Portland, OR	19	140	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Seattle, WA	22	25	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
St. Paul, MN	25	247	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
San Diego, CA	28	186	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Miami, FL	31	19	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Irvine, CA	34	10	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Tampa, FL	37	106	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Pearl City, HI	40	NaN	Mixed
Fort Lauderdale, FL	43	190	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Garland, TX	46	260	Mixed
Fargo, ND	49	47	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Grand Rapids, MI	52	48	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Salem, OR	55	112	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Fort Worth, TX	58	35	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Nashville, TN	61	43	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Reno, NV	64	74	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Chesapeake, VA	67	278	Mixed
Richmond, VA	70	157	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Columbus, OH	73	143	Easiest to Find a Job & Fastest Growing
Pembroke Pines, FL	79	127	Mixed
Houston, TX	82	255	Mixed
New York, NY	85	325	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Dover, DE	88	NaN	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Lewiston, ME	91	NaN	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Billings, MT	94	219	Mixed
Milwaukee, WI	97	446	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Port St. Lucie, FL	100	80	Mixed
Garden Grove, CA	103	337	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
St. Louis, MO	106	366	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Fontana, CA	109	166	Mixed
Knoxville, TN	112	389	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Norfolk, VA	115	412	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Long Beach, CA	118	284	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Kansas City, MO	121	306	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Baton Rouge, LA	124	504	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Nampa, ID	127	57	Mixed
Santa Clarita, CA	130	23	Mixed
El Paso, TX	133	399	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Aurora, IL	136	380	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Fort Smith, AR	139	459	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Greensboro, NC	142	355	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Cape Coral, FL	145	24	Mixed
Montgomery, AL	148	509	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Springfield, MO	151	359	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Philadelphia, PA	154	358	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Modesto, CA	157	111	Mixed
Augusta, GA	160	481	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Bridgeport, CT	163	449	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Anchorage, AK	166	501	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Winston-Salem, NC	169	257	Mixed
Gulfport, MS	172	441	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Fresno, CA	175	191	Mixed
Shreveport, LA	178	514	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing
Las Cruces, NM	181	489	Most Difficult to Find a Job & Slowest Growing

Ask the Experts

Although the employment projections for 2019 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 jobseekers, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What is your prediction for the job market in 2019?
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 jobseekers 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?
Miren Ivankovic Adjunct Professor, Clemson University
A. Colin Cameron Professor, Department of Economics, University of California, Davis
Daraius Irani Ph.D. – VP, Division of Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research, Chief Economist, Regional Economic Studies Institute, Towson University
Michael Zigarelli Ph.D. – Professor of Leadership and Strategy, Messiah College

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 jobseeker’s decision in terms of relocation for employment.

We then evaluated the two dimensions using 30 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 jobseekers. 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 percentage of jobs at risk of automation.
Job Security: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: (Number of Employees in 2017 – Number of Employees in 2016) / Number of Employees in 2016.
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*: Full Weight (~3.27 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.
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 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 percentage of employed residents whose incomes are below the poverty line.
Disability-Friendliness of Employers: Full Weight (~3.27 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage 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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