SmartAsset recently released a study to look into the top U.S. cities for career opportunity.
As the U.S. labor market continues to improve, and unemployment rates have dropped to 5.3%*, career professionals can once again look toward improving their long-term prospects.
A recent study by SmartAsset of the 355 largest U.S. metro areas provides a look into which major U.S. cities are currently the best for career opportunity.
The study found Utah to be brimming with smart career options. Among the top four cities nationwide are Provo, Logan and Salt Lake City.
In producing their list, the personal finance website collected data covering various factors, from the cost of housing and job creation to median income and growth in pay.
Here is their list of the top nine cities cited in the study.
Provo, Utah: Not far from Silicon Valley, Provo has quickly become a tech hub. The city is home to several highly valued software companies, two major universities and a robust healthcare community. Its number of new jobs grew by nearly 7 percent from 2014-2015, the highest rate of job growth of any U.S. metro area.
Logan, Utah: In addition to low unemployment, Logan has a relatively low cost of living. Its median annual housing costs are $8,244, well below the national average for metro areas. Even though the median income ranks low at $29,010, workers considering a job change can do so with less potential financial stress and maintain a high probability for advancement.
Fargo, North Dakota: This city is enjoying a boom, partly thanks to the region’s energy sector and major employers in the education and health care sectors, as well. Employees who settle in Fargo are typically rewarded financially, as late-career salaries are 21 percent higher on average than early-career salaries.
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Salt Lake City, Utah: The state capital of 1.15 million people added an impressive 29,000 jobs from mid-2014 to mid-2015. Combined with Provo, Logan and Ogden, Salk Lake forms a single metropolitan area that is the report considers the best region in the country for career opportunities.
Dayton, Ohio: Known by many as the hometown of the Wright brothers, Dayton remains big in aviation and aerospace. The National Air and Space Intelligence Center and the Air Force Research Laboratory are two if the big employers in Dayton. The city also benefits from a variety of other major employers, such as Cox Media, GE Capital and Honda.
Austin, Texas: Home to Dell’s headquarters and several other tech startups, the metro area’s population grew by 2.9 percent between 2013 and 2014, the highest among the nation’s largest cities. Fortunately, Austin has sustained the population growth with new jobs across various industries, including tech, renewable energy and life sciences.
Toledo, Ohio: Once closely tied to the automotive industry, Toledo is enjoying a turnaround. Companies such as First Solar and Xunlight have turned the metro area into a research and investment hub for solar technology. Its 3.6 percent growth rate ranks among the top 30 U.S. metro areas.
Burlington, Vermont: Small in population, but full of opportunity, Burlington is considered by the study as a good choice for those wanting a small-town feel with a solid and meaningful career. The top employer is the University of Vermont but many opportunities exist in tourism and manufacturing.
Madison, Wisconsin: As Wisconsin’s state capital and home to the University of Wisconsin, a large number of Madison citizens are employed as government workers. The jobs tend to have predictable, reliable career paths and workers are paid relatively well. The area’s median income of $38,520 ranks 36th out of the 355 largest U.S. metro areas.
