No U.S. cities have been untouched by the economic downturn, but some job markets have been better able to weather the storm. U.S. News & World Report examined a variety of data to identify cities where it’s easier to find a job than in many other places.The underlying strengths of the top cities vary considerably. Some of the stronger cities are state capitals and have lots of government jobs. Others have abundant natural resources, stable housing markets, growing health care sectors, or are in close proximity to military bases. But overall, what separates these communities from those that have been hit harder is a steady economy that protected them from steep unemployment.Here, in alphabetical order, are the 10 cities that offer the most opportunities for job seekers:
- Anchorage
- Arlington, Va.
- Columbus, Ohio
- Honolulu
- Houston
- Oklahoma City
- Salt Lake City
- Shreveport, La.
- Tallahassee, Fla.
- Wichita, Kan.
Here’s what they specifically had to say about Columbus.
While some are a bit hesitant to praise their local economy 20 months into a recession, Bill LaFayette, vice president of economic analysis for the Columbus Chamber, has seen the local data and the national averages, and he knows one thing is certain: “We’re doing a whole lot better than average,” LaFayette says. For one thing, Ohio’s capital city is smack in the middle of the state”and pretty central for much of the country”and it boasts a strong transportation and distribution industry. Columbus’s distribution employment has grown by a third since 2001, while the rest of the nation, on average, is down.You can, however, thank the city’s diverse economy for much of its resilience. Healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and even the tech industry contribute plenty of jobs. Some of the city’s major employers include Ohio State University, OhioHealth, Nationwide Insurance, JPMorgan Chase, Bob Evans, and Limited Brands. Employment in information technology occupations is significantly higher than in comparably sized regions because “so many of our sectors are voracious consumers of data” and need top-notch IT infrastructure, LaFayette says.
Source: U.S. News & World Report
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