New Geography

Author: Mark Schill

  • 2012 How We Pick the Best Cities For Job Growth

    We seek to measure the robustness of a region’s growth both recently and over time. We look at all of the metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports monthly employment data. They are derived from three-month rolling averages of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics “state and area” unadjusted employment data reported from November 2000 to January 2012.

    This year’s rankings use four measures of growth to rank all 398 metro areas for which full data sets were available from the past 10 years. “Large” areas include those with a current nonfarm employment base of at least 450,000 jobs. “Midsize” areas range from 150,000 to 450,000 jobs. “Small” areas have as many as 150,000 jobs. This year’s rankings reflect the current size of each MSA’s employment. Only one MSA, Lafayette, La., changed size categories, moving from the “Small” to “Midsize” category, so this year’s rankings can be directly compared to the 2011 rankings. In the instances where the analysis refers to changes in ranking order within the size categories, Lafayette, La., is reported as if it had been included in the “Midsize” category last year.

    The index is calculated from a normalized, weighted summary of: 1) recent growth trend: the current and prior year’s employment growth rates, with the current year emphasized (two points); 2) mid-term growth: the average annual 2006-2011 growth rate (two points); 3) long-term trend and momentum: the sum of the 2006-2011 and 2000-2005 employment growth rates multiplied by the ratio of the 2000-2005 growth rate over the 2006-2011 growth rate (two points); and 4) current year growth (one point).

    The data reflect the North American Industry Classification System categories, including total nonfarm employment, manufacturing, financial services, business and professional services, educational and health services, information, retail and wholesale trade, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality, and government.

  • All Cities Rankings – 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth

    Read about how we selected the 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth

    2012 Overall Ranking
    		 Area
    2012 Weighted INDEX
     
    2011 Nonfarm Employment (1000s) 
    2011 Overall Rank 
    Overal Movement
    1
    		 Odessa, TX
    99.4
    68.3
    11
    10
    2
    		 Midland, TX
    99.0
    75.3
    5
    3
    3
    		 Columbus, IN
    95.6
    47.7
    235
    232
    4
    		 Lafayette, LA
    92.5
    156.3
    34
    30
    5
    		 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
    91.6
    798.5
    6
    1
    6
    		 Corpus Christi, TX
    90.4
    184.0
    12
    6
    7
    		 San Angelo, TX
    89.2
    46.7
    32
    25
    8
    		 Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX
    88.7
    2637.3
    14
    6
    9
    		 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
    87.8
    73.9
    273
    264
    10
    		 Casper, WY
    84.8
    40.9
    186
    176
    11
    		 Williamsport, PA
    83.7
    55.4
    73
    62
    12
    		 Glens Falls, NY
    83.0
    55.6
    77
    65
    13
    		 Lubbock, TX
    82.6
    131.4
    102
    89
    14
    		 Laredo, TX
    82.1
    95.0
    74
    60
    15
    		 Columbia, MO
    82.1
    96.7
    29
    14
    16
    		 Cumberland, MD-WV
    82.0
    41.7
    42
    26
    17
    		 Gainesville, GA
    81.9
    75.8
    68
    51
    18
    		 Portsmouth, NH-ME NECTA
    81.7
    56.0
    45
    27
    19
    		 Holland-Grand Haven, MI
    80.9
    113.1
    221
    202
    20
    		 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
    79.7
    232.3
    27
    7
    21
    		 Bismarck, ND
    79.2
    65.7
    2
    -19
    22
    		 Salt Lake City, UT
    79.1
    637.3
    110
    88
    23
    		 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA
    78.8
    95.1
    87
    64
    24
    		 State College, PA
    78.5
    76.4
    65
    41
    25
    		 Fargo, ND-MN
    78.4
    127.3
    38
    13
    26
    		 Ocean City, NJ
    78.0
    36.8
    79
    53
    27
    		 El Paso, TX
    77.8
    283.1
    3
    -24
    28
    		 Owensboro, KY
    77.6
    51.8
    88
    60
    29
    		 Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, SC
    77.4
    296.4
    90
    61
    30
    		 Charlottesville, VA
    77.0
    102.3
    116
    86
    31
    		 Tyler, TX
    76.9
    96.0
    85
    54
    32
    		 Cheyenne, WY
    76.8
    44.7
    145
    113
    33
    		 Knoxville, TN
    76.5
    334.8
    94
    61
    34
    		 Barnstable Town, MA NECTA
    76.2
    94.4
    95
    61
    35
    		 Longview, TX
    76.1
    98.0
    23
    -12
    36
    		 Hanford-Corcoran, CA
    76.0
    36.6
    217
    181
    37
    		 Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division
    76.0
    872.3
    84
    47
    38
    		 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
    75.9
    891.6
    181
    143
    39
    		 Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division
    75.9
    2077.9
    18
    -21
    40
    		 Raleigh-Cary, NC
    75.9
    514.5
    83
    43
    41
    		 Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA
    75.8
    99.0
    25
    -16
    42
    		 Victoria, TX
    75.6
    50.6
    140
    98
    43
    		 Pittsburgh, PA
    75.2
    1157.7
    61
    18
    44
    		 Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX
    74.6
    129.0
    1
    -43
    45
    		 Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
    74.0
    759.6
    48
    3
    46
    		 Grand Junction, CO
    73.8
    60.5
    232
    186
    47
    		 Provo-Orem, UT
    73.7
    185.8
    98
    51
    48
    		 Oklahoma City, OK
    73.6
    575.7
    124
    76
    49
    		 New York City, NY
    73.5
    3816.0
    52
    3
    50
    		 Northern Virginia, VA
    73.5
    1342.3
    43
    -7
    51
    		 Bakersfield-Delano, CA
    72.8
    234.5
    194
    143
    52
    		 St. Joseph, MO-KS
    72.8
    60.6
    159
    107
    53
    		 Lafayette, IN
    72.4
    95.6
    157
    104
    54
    		 Pueblo, CO
    72.4
    58.7
    99
    45
    55
    		 Sherman-Denison, TX
    72.2
    43.6
    184
    129
    56
    		 Boulder, CO
    72.1
    164.3
    150
    94
    57
    		 Erie, PA
    72.1
    131.2
    130
    73
    58
    		 Fayetteville, NC
    71.7
    132.0
    144
    86
    59
    		 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
    71.6
    135.9
    50
    -9
    60
    		 Morgantown, WV
    71.0
    66.5
    33
    -27
    61
    		 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
    70.8
    81.0
    311
    250
    62
    		 New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA
    70.8
    529.3
    7
    -55
    63
    		 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
    70.7
    90.9
    126
    63
    64
    		 Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
    70.6
    375.7
    183
    119
    65
    		 Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR
    70.6
    58.1
    59
    -6
    66
    		 Peoria, IL
    70.5
    182.5
    151
    85
    67
    		 Baltimore City, MD
    70.1
    364.9
    259
    192
    68
    		 Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
    70.0
    1416.3
    211
    143
    69
    		 Utica-Rome, NY
    69.8
    133.1
    177
    108
    70
    		 Amarillo, TX
    69.7
    113.1
    89
    19
    71
    		 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
    69.6
    129.5
    28
    -43
    72
    		 Palm Coast, FL
    69.6
    19.0
    133
    61
    73
    		 Rapid City, SD
    69.5
    60.5
    97
    24
    74
    		 Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO
    69.3
    1219.8
    164
    90
    75
    		 Asheville, NC
    69.2
    172.0
    158
    83
    76
    		 Columbus, GA-AL
    69.1
    120.6
    199
    123
    77
    		 Winchester, VA-WV
    69.0
    56.4
    139
    62
    78
    		 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Met. Div.
    68.7
    2451.8
    41
    -37
    79
    		 Greeley, CO
    68.7
    80.3
    193
    114
    80
    		 Mankato-North Mankato, MN
    68.7
    53.5
    168
    88
    81
    		 Lincoln, NE
    68.6
    174.9
    101
    20
    82
    		 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
    68.5
    94.3
    44
    -38
    83
    		 Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury, MA-NH  NECTA Div.
    68.3
    78.1
    55
    -28
    84
    		 Framingham, MA  NECTA Division
    68.2
    158.0
    210
    126
    85
    		 San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Div.
    67.8
    959.1
    218
    133
    86
    		 Kansas City, KS
    67.7
    435.2
    242
    156
    87
    		 Sioux Falls, SD
    67.4
    135.6
    96
    9
    88
    		 Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC
    67.2
    305.3
    225
    137
    89
    		 Trenton-Ewing, NJ
    66.9
    243.4
    170
    81
    90
    		 Canton-Massillon, OH
    66.9
    164.7
    337
    247
    91
    		 Rochester, NY
    66.7
    514.4
    92
    1
    92
    		 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
    66.7
    276.8
    136
    44
    93
    		 Ames, IA
    66.0
    48.2
    114
    21
    94
    		 Johnson City, TN
    65.9
    79.9
    154
    60
    95
    		 Dubuque, IA
    65.8
    56.6
    8
    -87
    96
    		 Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC
    65.7
    830.0
    204
    108
    97
    		 Logan, UT-ID
    65.6
    54.4
    13
    -84
    98
    		 Danbury, CT NECTA
    65.6
    67.8
    264
    166
    99
    		 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
    65.4
    854.0
    17
    -82
    100
    		 Altoona, PA
    65.4
    61.5
    93
    -7
    101
    		 Peabody, MA  NECTA Division
    65.3
    101.4
    247
    146
    102
    		 Jacksonville, NC
    65.3
    47.8
    19
    -83
    103
    		 Auburn-Opelika, AL
    65.1
    53.6
    30
    -73
    104
    		 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA
    64.7
    38.4
    47
    -57
    105
    		 Harrisonburg, VA
    64.4
    63.7
    53
    -52
    106
    		 Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH  NECTA Division
    64.0
    117.5
    191
    85
    107
    		 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO
    63.8
    204.3
    63
    -44
    108
    		 Ann Arbor, MI
    63.7
    202.4
    128
    20
    109
    		 Evansville, IN-KY
    63.6
    175.6
    176
    67
    110
    		 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
    63.5
    340.2
    125
    15
    111
    		 Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division
    63.2
    1019.5
    234
    123
    112
    		 Columbus, OH
    62.7
    924.0
    108
    -4
    113
    		 Burlington-South Burlington, VT NECTA
    62.6
    114.2
    69
    -44
    114
    		 Coeur d’Alene, ID
    62.5
    53.0
    147
    33
    115
    		 Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY
    62.4
    253.0
    156
    41
    116
    		 Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA
    62.3
    165.5
    306
    190
    117
    		 Clarksville, TN-KY
    61.9
    84.2
    31
    -86
    118
    		 Reading, PA
    61.8
    171.0
    153
    35
    119
    		 Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
    61.7
    462.6
    118
    -1
    120
    		 Nassau-Suffolk, NY Metropolitan Division
    61.5
    1248.0
    100
    -20
    121
    		 York-Hanover, PA
    61.4
    177.7
    106
    -15
    122
    		 Joplin, MO
    61.4
    80.0
    24
    -98
    123
    		 Rochester-Dover, NH-ME NECTA
    61.3
    56.3
    138
    15
    124
    		 Baton Rouge, LA
    60.9
    369.2
    198
    74
    125
    		 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
    60.8
    178.1
    86
    -39
    126
    		 Danville, VA
    60.5
    40.0
    299
    173
    127
    		 Lansing-East Lansing, MI
    60.5
    220.5
    123
    -4
    128
    		 Iowa City, IA
    60.5
    91.4
    54
    -74
    129
    		 Olympia, WA
    60.4
    99.4
    263
    134
    130
    		 Sandusky, OH
    60.2
    35.2
    78
    -52
    131
    		 St. Cloud, MN
    60.2
    99.6
    72
    -59
    132
    		 Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
    60.1
    605.8
    230
    98
    133
    		 Putnam-Rockland-Westchester, NY
    59.8
    564.6
    195
    62
    134
    		 Jackson, MS
    59.8
    255.5
    190
    56
    135
    		 Richmond, VA
    59.6
    613.1
    246
    111
    136
    		 Bay City, MI
    59.3
    36.9
    334
    198
    137
    		 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
    59.3
    993.2
    233
    96
    138
    		 Hinesville-Fort Stewart, GA
    59.3
    19.8
    67
    -71
    139
    		 Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division
    59.2
    1689.9
    71
    -68
    140
    		 Las Cruces, NM
    59.2
    69.8
    56
    -84
    141
    		 Springfield, IL
    59.0
    111.8
    37
    -104
    142
    		 Napa, CA
    59.0
    60.7
    344
    202
    143
    		 Salinas, CA
    59.0
    123.0
    335
    192
    144
    		 Lewiston-Auburn, ME NECTA
    58.8
    48.7
    166
    22
    145
    		 Burlington, NC
    58.8
    58.0
    262
    117
    146
    		 Jonesboro, AR
    58.3
    49.2
    36
    -110
    147
    		 Kankakee-Bradley, IL
    58.1
    43.3
    127
    -20
    148
    		 Greenville, NC
    58.0
    75.9
    122
    -26
    149
    		 Springfield, MO
    57.9
    194.1
    161
    12
    150
    		 Fort Wayne, IN
    57.9
    208.3
    303
    153
    151
    		 Manchester, NH NECTA
    57.8
    98.7
    180
    29
    152
    		 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT NECTA
    57.6
    543.1
    175
    23
    153
    		 Tulsa, OK
    57.3
    412.9
    226
    73
    154
    		 Decatur, IL
    57.1
    52.7
    189
    35
    155
    		 Appleton, WI
    57.0
    116.7
    117
    -38
    156
    		 Green Bay, WI
    56.9
    166.9
    112
    -44
    157
    		 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA
    56.9
    2323.4
    329
    172
    158
    		 Columbia, SC
    56.8
    349.7
    276
    118
    159
    		 Bellingham, WA
    56.5
    80.4
    333
    174
    160
    		 Bowling Green, KY
    56.4
    59.8
    62
    -98
    161
    		 Anchorage, AK
    56.4
    170.0
    22
    -139
    162
    		 Goldsboro, NC
    56.1
    43.2
    287
    125
    163
    		 Lebanon, PA
    56.0
    49.8
    21
    -142
    164
    		 Indianapolis-Carmel, IN
    56.0
    883.5
    188
    24
    165
    		 Fairbanks, AK
    56.0
    37.4
    15
    -150
    166
    		 Worcester, MA-CT NECTA
    55.9
    243.9
    141
    -25
    167
    		 College Station-Bryan, TX
    55.8
    95.9
    4
    -163
    168
    		 Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
    55.5
    45.8
    378
    210
    169
    		 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
    55.4
    318.0
    178
    9
    170
    		 Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA
    55.3
    256.6
    148
    -22
    171
    		 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
    55.2
    1145.7
    327
    156
    172
    		 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV
    55.0
    99.3
    248
    76
    173
    		 Merced, CA
    54.9
    56.4
    155
    -18
    174
    		 Warner Robins, GA
    54.9
    59.2
    46
    -128
    175
    		 Ogden-Clearfield, UT
    54.8
    193.8
    149
    -26
    176
    		 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
    54.8
    1729.0
    294
    118
    177
    		 Dover, DE
    54.8
    64.3
    109
    -68
    178
    		 Elkhart-Goshen, IN
    54.8
    107.9
    258
    80
    179
    		 Kingston, NY
    54.7
    61.6
    187
    8
    180
    		 Charleston, WV
    54.7
    148.1
    197
    17
    181
    		 Springfield, OH
    54.7
    49.9
    129
    -52
    182
    		 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
    54.4
    339.4
    82
    -100
    183
    		 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
    54.3
    542.7
    104
    -79
    184
    		 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
    54.3
    105.9
    26
    -158
    185
    		 Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC
    54.2
    109.7
    51
    -134
    186
    		 Farmington, NM
    54.1
    48.8
    272
    86
    187
    		 Niles-Benton Harbor, MI
    54.0
    59.3
    121
    -66
    188
    		 Elizabethtown, KY
    54.0
    47.0
    16
    -172
    189
    		 El Centro, CA
    54.0
    45.3
    251
    62
    190
    		 Calvert-Charles-Prince George’s, MD
    53.8
    382.2
    209
    19
    191
    		 La Crosse, WI-MN
    53.2
    73.9
    163
    -28
    192
    		 Naples-Marco Island, FL
    53.2
    117.5
    370
    178
    193
    		 Grand Forks, ND-MN
    53.1
    54.0
    39
    -154
    194
    		 Honolulu, HI
    52.9
    441.9
    105
    -89
    195
    		 Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ
    51.6
    59.3
    331
    136
    196
    		 San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA
    51.6
    1241.6
    236
    40
    197
    		 Decatur, AL
    51.3
    54.4
    266
    69
    198
    		 Yakima, WA
    51.1
    75.9
    66
    -132
    199
    		 Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division
    51.1
    1086.4
    369
    170
    200
    		 Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach, FL
    51.1
    71.4
    162
    -38
    201
    		 Monroe, LA
    51.1
    76.7
    289
    88
    202
    		 Memphis, TN-MS-AR
    51.0
    606.0
    392
    190
    203
    		 Corvallis, OR
    50.9
    37.8
    40
    -163
    204
    		 Jacksonville, FL
    50.9
    595.7
    253
    49
    205
    		 Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN
    50.8
    992.7
    313
    108
    206
    		 Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
    50.2
    120.1
    322
    116
    207
    		 Santa Fe, NM
    50.1
    61.0
    227
    20
    208
    		 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
    50.0
    1018.3
    167
    -41
    209
    		 Punta Gorda, FL
    50.0
    42.4
    238
    29
    210
    		 Salisbury, MD
    49.9
    52.9
    275
    65
    211
    		 Philadelphia City, PA
    49.7
    657.3
    58
    -153
    212
    		 Kansas City, MO
    49.7
    548.1
    290
    78
    213
    		 Florence, SC
    49.6
    82.7
    281
    68
    214
    		 Binghamton, NY
    49.4
    109.9
    228
    14
    215
    		 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
    49.4
    87.8
    347
    132
    216
    		 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
    49.2
    73.3
    208
    -8
    217
    		 Jefferson City, MO
    49.2
    76.9
    119
    -98
    218
    		 Madison, WI
    49.1
    344.3
    107
    -111
    219
    		 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
    48.8
    60.2
    393
    174
    220
    		 Bergen-Hudson-Passaic, NJ
    48.6
    878.3
    254
    34
    221
    		 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
    48.6
    135.7
    345
    124
    222
    		 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
    48.5
    321.6
    205
    -17
    223
    		 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
    48.4
    437.8
    245
    22
    224
    		 Bangor, ME NECTA
    48.1
    64.6
    271
    47
    225
    		 New Haven, CT NECTA
    47.9
    268.5
    222
    -3
    226
    		 Kokomo, IN
    47.8
    41.6
    215
    -11
    227
    		 Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ
    47.8
    1739.9
    339
    112
    228
    		 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
    47.7
    205.4
    382
    154
    229
    		 Waco, TX
    47.6
    104.4
    49
    -180
    230
    		 Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division
    47.3
    561.1
    70
    -160
    231
    		 Yuba City, CA
    47.3
    37.5
    356
    125
    232
    		 Gary, IN Metropolitan Division
    47.2
    268.5
    328
    96
    233
    		 Jackson, MI
    47.2
    54.6
    391
    158
    234
    		 Tacoma, WA Metropolitan Division
    47.0
    265.8
    223
    -11
    235
    		 Boise City-Nampa, ID
    47.0
    256.8
    309
    74
    236
    		 Lexington-Fayette, KY
    46.5
    249.1
    103
    -133
    237
    		 Syracuse, NY
    46.4
    314.4
    172
    -65
    238
    		 Wheeling, WV-OH
    46.0
    66.7
    34
    -204
    239
    		 Macon, GA
    45.9
    96.6
    279
    40
    240
    		 Idaho Falls, ID
    45.6
    48.7
    216
    -24
    241
    		 Lewiston, ID-WA
    45.5
    26.0
    305
    64
    242
    		 Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division
    45.4
    1382.6
    317
    75
    243
    		 Johnstown, PA
    45.4
    60.0
    57
    -186
    244
    		 Athens-Clarke County, GA
    45.4
    84.1
    132
    -112
    245
    		 Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division
    45.2
    3657.9
    250
    5
    246
    		 Cedar Rapids, IA
    45.1
    136.2
    81
    -165
    247
    		 Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
    45.0
    733.5
    244
    -3
    248
    		 Lancaster, PA
    45.0
    226.8
    192
    -56
    249
    		 Chattanooga, TN-GA
    45.0
    233.4
    203
    -46
    250
    		 Dayton, OH
    44.9
    377.9
    336
    86
    251
    		 St. George, UT
    44.9
    46.3
    324
    73
    252
    		 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
    44.8
    55.1
    131
    -121
    253
    		 Rockford, IL
    44.2
    146.8
    308
    55
    254
    		 Pascagoula, MS
    44.1
    56.1
    10
    -244
    255
    		 Huntsville, AL
    44.0
    205.6
    113
    -142
    256
    		 Bloomington-Normal, IL
    43.9
    89.8
    142
    -114
    257
    		 Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA
    43.7
    117.5
    265
    8
    258
    		 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
    43.5
    156.9
    359
    101
    259
    		 Winston-Salem, NC
    43.3
    207.2
    358
    99
    260
    		 Colorado Springs, CO
    43.2
    247.5
    243
    -17
    261
    		 Mobile, AL
    42.9
    174.7
    165
    -96
    262
    		 New Bedford, MA NECTA
    42.8
    64.8
    75
    -187
    263
    		 Topeka, KS
    42.5
    106.9
    185
    -78
    264
    		 Abilene, TX
    42.5
    64.7
    160
    -104
    265
    		 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
    42.3
    207.8
    179
    -86
    266
    		 Battle Creek, MI
    42.1
    56.0
    207
    -59
    267
    		 Fresno, CA
    42.0
    281.2
    310
    43
    268
    		 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
    42.0
    114.3
    292
    24
    269
    		 Manhattan, KS
    41.9
    54.5
    9
    -260
    270
    		 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
    41.8
    157.6
    115
    -155
    271
    		 Hot Springs, AR
    41.7
    36.9
    146
    -125
    272
    		 Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, MA  NECTA Division
    41.6
    87.2
    76
    -196
    273
    		 Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME NECTA
    41.5
    187.0
    152
    -121
    274
    		 Lawton, OK
    41.2
    42.4
    20
    -254
    275
    		 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
    40.9
    43.6
    213
    -62
    276
    		 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
    40.7
    1147.6
    362
    86
    277
    		 Anderson, IN
    40.6
    39.7
    284
    7
    278
    		 Eau Claire, WI
    40.1
    79.3
    60
    -218
    279
    		 Redding, CA
    40.1
    58.1
    353
    74
    280
    		 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
    39.8
    275.9
    283
    3
    281
    		 Billings, MT
    39.3
    76.6
    137
    -144
    282
    		 Edison-New Brunswick, NJ Metropolitan Division
    39.2
    978.3
    249
    -33
    283
    		 Fond du Lac, WI
    39.2
    45.2
    302
    19
    284
    		 Rochester, MN
    39.0
    101.0
    202
    -82
    285
    		 Lima, OH
    38.8
    52.5
    326
    41
    286
    		 Stockton, CA
    38.8
    189.6
    361
    75
    287
    		 Tuscaloosa, AL
    38.7
    93.2
    134
    -153
    288
    		 Tucson, AZ
    38.6
    358.4
    332
    44
    289
    		 Tallahassee, FL
    38.3
    169.5
    201
    -88
    290
    		 Springfield, MA-CT NECTA
    38.3
    285.4
    224
    -66
    291
    		 Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL Met. Div.
    38.1
    715.9
    342
    51
    292
    		 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL
    38.0
    242.6
    354
    62
    293
    		 Albuquerque, NM
    38.0
    371.0
    278
    -15
    294
    		 Hattiesburg, MS
    37.9
    58.6
    80
    -214
    295
    		 Alexandria, LA
    37.9
    62.6
    174
    -121
    296
    		 Akron, OH
    37.8
    318.1
    298
    2
    297
    		 Pocatello, ID
    37.6
    36.2
    341
    44
    298
    		 Spartanburg, SC
    37.4
    118.0
    231
    -67
    299
    		 Savannah, GA
    37.3
    149.6
    200
    -99
    300
    		 Muncie, IN
    37.2
    50.1
    314
    14
    301
    		 Toledo, OH
    37.2
    301.8
    277
    -24
    302
    		 St. Louis, MO-IL
    37.2
    1289.9
    206
    -96
    303
    		 Great Falls, MT
    36.9
    34.2
    64
    -239
    304
    		 Ithaca, NY
    36.7
    62.7
    35
    -269
    305
    		 Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT NECTA
    36.4
    397.0
    196
    -109
    306
    		 Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, MI
    36.3
    85.0
    282
    -24
    307
    		 Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
    36.3
    808.8
    143
    -164
    308
    		 West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL Met. Div.
    36.3
    509.1
    346
    38
    309
    		 Bloomington, IN
    36.1
    81.2
    135
    -174
    310
    		 Roanoke, VA
    36.0
    155.4
    316
    6
    311
    		 Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division
    35.7
    373.4
    304
    -7
    312
    		 Wilmington, NC
    35.5
    134.3
    214
    -98
    313
    		 Las Vegas-Paradise, NV
    35.4
    813.2
    376
    63
    314
    		 Flint, MI
    35.3
    136.6
    390
    76
    315
    		 Bremerton-Silverdale, WA
    35.3
    81.8
    286
    -29
    316
    		 Lawrence, KS
    34.5
    50.3
    270
    -46
    317
    		 Elmira, NY
    34.4
    39.0
    91
    -226
    318
    		 Salem, OR
    34.2
    141.0
    269
    -49
    319
    		 Spokane, WA
    34.0
    202.9
    261
    -58
    320
    		 Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA
    33.8
    222.9
    318
    -2
    321
    		 Danville, IL
    33.7
    29.2
    371
    50
    322
    		 Valdosta, GA
    33.1
    52.1
    295
    -27
    323
    		 Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH
    33.1
    69.2
    315
    -8
    324
    		 Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division
    33.1
    502.8
    301
    -23
    325
    		 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL
    33.0
    157.6
    171
    -154
    326
    		 Lake Charles, LA
    32.6
    88.2
    267
    -59
    327
    		 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
    32.1
    96.0
    319
    -8
    328
    		 Greensboro-High Point, NC
    31.9
    345.3
    385
    57
    329
    		 Dothan, AL
    31.7
    57.7
    397
    68
    330
    		 Pittsfield, MA NECTA
    31.6
    34.9
    120
    -210
    331
    		 Missoula, MT
    31.4
    53.8
    252
    -79
    332
    		 Mansfield, OH
    31.2
    52.5
    383
    51
    333
    		 Gainesville, FL
    30.8
    125.9
    257
    -76
    334
    		 Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division
    29.8
    974.2
    343
    9
    335
    		 Visalia-Porterville, CA
    29.5
    104.5
    320
    -15
    336
    		 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
    29.4
    135.2
    349
    13
    337
    		 Bend, OR
    29.1
    60.1
    363
    26
    338
    		 Jackson, TN
    28.9
    58.3
    297
    -41
    339
    		 Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division
    28.8
    331.7
    364
    25
    340
    		 Medford, OR
    28.6
    75.1
    321
    -19
    341
    		 Gadsden, AL
    28.6
    35.6
    291
    -50
    342
    		 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
    28.2
    193.2
    351
    9
    343
    		 Reno-Sparks, NV
    27.9
    190.3
    372
    29
    344
    		 Lynchburg, VA
    27.8
    102.1
    237
    -107
    345
    		 Ocala, FL
    27.2
    90.9
    377
    32
    346
    		 Port St. Lucie, FL
    26.9
    120.5
    293
    -53
    347
    		 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
    26.5
    177.2
    229
    -118
    348
    		 Racine, WI
    26.5
    74.8
    296
    -52
    349
    		 Nashua, NH-MA  NECTA Division
    26.4
    124.0
    312
    -37
    350
    		 Wichita, KS
    26.4
    282.0
    288
    -62
    351
    		 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
    26.4
    195.4
    323
    -28
    352
    		 Madera-Chowchilla, CA
    26.4
    31.8
    280
    -72
    353
    		 Norwich-New London, CT-RI NECTA
    26.3
    125.7
    268
    -85
    354
    		 Flagstaff, AZ
    26.2
    59.0
    111
    -243
    355
    		 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division
    26.1
    3822.4
    373
    18
    356
    		 Modesto, CA
    25.9
    142.5
    241
    -115
    357
    		 Wausau, WI
    25.8
    66.5
    355
    -2
    358
    		 Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville, CA
    25.8
    801.3
    367
    9
    359
    		 Montgomery, AL
    25.7
    164.3
    338
    -21
    360
    		 Michigan City-La Porte, IN
    25.4
    42.3
    350
    -10
    361
    		 Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH
    24.7
    985.0
    307
    -54
    362
    		 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ
    24.5
    45.6
    375
    13
    363
    		 Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Division
    24.3
    699.8
    384
    21
    364
    		 Duluth, MN-WI
    24.1
    125.9
    173
    -191
    365
    		 Chico, CA
    23.3
    67.8
    239
    -126
    366
    		 Waterbury, CT NECTA
    23.3
    62.5
    330
    -36
    367
    		 Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL
    22.7
    43.3
    240
    -127
    368
    		 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
    21.7
    142.9
    388
    20
    369
    		 Wichita Falls, TX
    20.7
    57.8
    274
    -95
    370
    		 Terre Haute, IN
    20.6
    69.7
    220
    -150
    371
    		 Prescott, AZ
    20.5
    53.3
    379
    8
    372
    		 Cleveland, TN
    20.3
    38.5
    285
    -87
    373
    		 Sumter, SC
    20.0
    36.7
    260
    -113
    374
    		 Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division
    19.4
    953.6
    395
    21
    375
    		 Longview, WA
    19.2
    35.0
    348
    -27
    376
    		 Yuma, AZ
    19.1
    49.1
    365
    -11
    377
    		 Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner, MA NECTA
    18.3
    47.2
    182
    -195
    378
    		 Anderson, SC
    18.1
    58.2
    212
    -166
    379
    		 Eugene-Springfield, OR
    17.8
    138.7
    380
    1
    380
    		 Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA NECTA
    17.7
    539.3
    256
    -124
    381
    		 Pine Bluff, AR
    17.3
    36.6
    398
    17
    382
    		 Brunswick, GA
    17.2
    39.2
    368
    -14
    383
    		 Anniston-Oxford, AL
    15.8
    47.7
    352
    -31
    384
    		 Birmingham-Hoover, AL
    14.9
    487.3
    374
    -10
    385
    		 Fort Smith, AR-OK
    13.6
    110.2
    255
    -130
    386
    		 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
    13.3
    133.7
    300
    -86
    387
    		 Rome, GA
    13.2
    37.1
    381
    -6
    388
    		 Rocky Mount, NC
    12.4
    59.6
    325
    -63
    389
    		 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
    11.4
    168.0
    357
    -32
    390
    		 Sheboygan, WI
    11.1
    57.2
    360
    -30
    391
    		 Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV
    10.3
    43.1
    386
    -5
    392
    		 Monroe, MI
    9.3
    37.0
    387
    -5
    393
    		 Albany, GA
    7.0
    59.3
    340
    -53
    394
    		 Champaign-Urbana, IL
    6.0
    103.4
    219
    -175
    395
    		 Carson City, NV
    5.1
    27.7
    366
    -29
    396
    		 Janesville, WI
    4.4
    60.0
    396
    0
    397
    		 Morristown, TN
    2.8
    43.6
    389
    -8
    398
    		 Dalton, GA
    0.5
    62.8
    394
    -4

  • Best Cities for Jobs 2012

    Best Cities for Jobs 2012 Rankings

  • 2011 How We Pick the Best Cities For Job Growth

    The methodology for the 2011 rankings largely corresponds to that used last year, which emphasizes the robustness of a region’s growth both recently and over time. It allows the rankings to include all of the metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports monthly employment data. They are derived from three-month rolling averages of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics “state and area” unadjusted employment data reported from November 1999 to January 2011.

    “Large” areas include those with a current nonfarm employment base of at least 450,000 jobs. “Midsize” areas range from 150,000 to 450,000 jobs. “Small” areas have as many as 150,000 jobs. This year’s rankings reflect the current size of each MSA’s employment, unlike last year when some were “held over” in size categories to facilitate comparisons.

    This year’s rankings use four measures of growth to rank all areas for which full data sets were available from the past 10 years. Because of the expanded availability of data since last year, we were able to include another small MSA (Manhattan, KS) in this year’s rankings for a total of 398 regions. Generally, this year’s rankings can be directly compared to the 2010 rankings for MSAs for the large and midsize categories, although there are eight MSAs that are reported in the Small size category that were Medium last year and one (Honolulu, HI) that was large that is now reported as medium-sized. In instances where the analysis refers to changes in ranking order, these adjustments are made accordingly, reporting the changes in ranking as if they had been categorized in their current category last year.

    The index is calculated from a normalized, weighted summary of: 1) recent growth trend: the current and prior year’s employment growth rates, with the current year emphasized (two points); 2) mid-term growth: the average annual 2005-2010 growth rate (two points); 3) long-term trend and momentum: the sum of the 2005-2010 and 1999-2004 employment growth rates multiplied by the ratio of the 1999-2004 growth rate over the 2005-2010 growth rate (two points); and 4) current year growth (one point).

    The data reflect the North American Industry Classification System categories, including total nonfarm employment, manufacturing, financial services, business and professional services, educational and health services, information, retail and wholesale trade, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality, and government.

  • Large Cities Rankings – 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth

    Read about how we selected the 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth

    2012 New Geography Rankings – Large (> 450k employment)

    2012  Rank Among Large Cities
    Area
    2012 Weighted INDEX
    		  

    2011 Nonfarm Employment (1000s) 
    2011 Size Ranking
    Size Movement
    1
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
    91.6
    798.5
    1
    0
    2
    Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX
    88.7
    2637.3
    3
    1
    3
    Salt Lake City, UT
    79.1
    637.3
    20
    17
    4
    Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division
    76.0
    872.3
    15
    11
    5
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
    75.9
    891.6
    27
    22
    6
    Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division
    75.9
    2077.9
    5
    -1
    7
    Raleigh-Cary, NC
    75.9
    514.5
    14
    7
    8
    Pittsburgh, PA
    75.2
    1157.7
    11
    3
    9
    Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
    74.0
    759.6
    8
    -1
    10
    Oklahoma City, OK
    73.6
    575.7
    22
    12
    11
    New York City, NY
    73.5
    3816.0
    9
    -2
    12
    Northern Virginia, VA
    73.5
    1342.3
    7
    -5
    13
    New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA
    70.8
    529.3
    2
    -11
    14
    Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
    70.0
    1416.3
    32
    18
    15
    Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO
    69.3
    1219.8
    24
    9
    16
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Met. Div.
    68.7
    2451.8
    6
    -10
    17
    San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Met. Div.
    67.8
    959.1
    33
    16
    18
    Rochester, NY
    66.7
    514.4
    16
    -2
    19
    Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC
    65.7
    830.0
    30
    11
    20
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
    65.4
    854.0
    4
    -16
    21
    Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division
    63.2
    1019.5
    36
    15
    22
    Columbus, OH
    62.7
    924.0
    19
    -3
    23
    Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
    61.7
    462.6
    21
    -2
    24
    Nassau-Suffolk, NY Metropolitan Division
    61.5
    1248.0
    17
    -7
    25
    Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
    60.1
    605.8
    34
    9
    26
    Putnam-Rockland-Westchester, NY
    59.8
    564.6
    29
    3
    27
    Richmond, VA
    59.6
    613.1
    39
    12
    28
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
    59.3
    993.2
    35
    7
    29
    Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division
    59.2
    1689.9
    13
    -16
    30
    Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT NECTA
    57.6
    543.1
    26
    -4
    31
    Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA
    56.9
    2323.4
    52
    21
    32
    Indianapolis-Carmel, IN
    56.0
    883.5
    28
    -4
    33
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
    55.2
    1145.7
    51
    18
    34
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
    54.8
    1729.0
    46
    12
    35
    Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
    54.3
    542.7
    18
    -17
    36
    San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA
    51.6
    1241.6
    37
    1
    37
    Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division
    51.1
    1086.4
    59
    22
    38
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR
    51.0
    606.0
    64
    26
    39
    Jacksonville, FL
    50.9
    595.7
    42
    3
    40
    Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN
    50.8
    992.7
    49
    9
    41
    Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
    50.0
    1018.3
    25
    -16
    42
    Philadelphia City, PA
    49.7
    657.3
    10
    -32
    43
    Kansas City, MO
    49.7
    548.1
    45
    2
    44
    Bergen-Hudson-Passaic, NJ
    48.6
    878.3
    43
    -1
    45
    Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ
    47.8
    1739.9
    53
    8
    46
    Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division
    47.3
    561.1
    12
    -34
    47
    Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division
    45.4
    1382.6
    50
    3
    48
    Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division
    45.2
    3657.9
    41
    -7
    49
    Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
    45.0
    733.5
    38
    -11
    50
    Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
    40.7
    1147.6
    57
    7
    51
    Edison-New Brunswick, NJ Metropolitan Division
    39.2
    978.3
    40
    -11
    52
    Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL Met. Div.
    38.1
    715.9
    54
    2
    53
    St. Louis, MO-IL
    37.2
    1289.9
    31
    -22
    54
    Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
    36.3
    808.8
    23
    -31
    55
    West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL Met. Div.
    36.3
    509.1
    56
    1
    56
    Las Vegas-Paradise, NV
    35.4
    813.2
    62
    6
    57
    Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division
    33.1
    502.8
    47
    -10
    58
    Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division
    29.8
    974.2
    55
    -3
    59
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division
    26.1
    3822.4
    60
    1
    60
    Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville, CA
    25.8
    801.3
    58
    -2
    61
    Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH
    24.7
    985.0
    48
    -13
    62
    Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Division
    24.3
    699.8
    63
    1
    63
    Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division
    19.4
    953.6
    65
    2
    64
    Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA NECTA
    17.7
    539.3
    44
    -20
    65
    Birmingham-Hoover, AL
    14.9
    487.3
    61
    -4

  • Midsized Cities Rankings – 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth

    Read about how we selected the 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth

    2012 New Geography Rankings – MEDIUM (150k – 450k employment)

    2012  Rank Among Medium Cities
    Area
    2012 Weighted INDEX
    		  

    2011 Nonfarm Employment (1000s) 
    2011 Size Ranking
    Size Movement
    1
    Lafayette, LA
    92.5
    156.3
    34
    33
    2
    Corpus Christi, TX
    90.4
    184.0
    2
    0
    3
    McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
    79.7
    232.3
    6
    3
    4
    El Paso, TX
    77.8
    283.1
    1
    -3
    5
    Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, SC
    77.4
    296.4
    8
    3
    6
    Knoxville, TN
    76.5
    334.8
    9
    3
    7
    Provo-Orem, UT
    73.7
    185.8
    30
    23
    8
    Bakersfield-Delano, CA
    72.8
    234.5
    43
    35
    9
    Boulder, CO
    72.1
    164.3
    26
    17
    10
    Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
    70.6
    375.7
    40
    30
    11
    Peoria, IL
    70.5
    182.5
    65
    54
    12
    Baltimore City, MD
    70.1
    364.9
    60
    48
    13
    Asheville, NC
    69.2
    172.0
    31
    18
    14
    Lincoln, NE
    68.6
    174.9
    10
    -4
    15
    Framingham, MA  NECTA Division
    68.2
    158.0
    50
    35
    16
    Kansas City, KS
    67.7
    435.2
    57
    41
    17
    Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC
    67.2
    305.3
    54
    37
    18
    Trenton-Ewing, NJ
    66.9
    243.4
    11
    -7
    19
    Canton-Massillon, OH
    66.9
    164.7
    79
    60
    20
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
    66.7
    276.8
    22
    2
    21
    Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO
    63.8
    204.3
    5
    -16
    22
    Ann Arbor, MI
    63.7
    202.4
    21
    -1
    23
    Evansville, IN-KY
    63.6
    175.6
    37
    14
    24
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
    63.5
    340.2
    20
    -4
    25
    Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY
    62.4
    253.0
    29
    4
    26
    Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA
    62.3
    165.5
    66
    40
    27
    Reading, PA
    61.8
    171.0
    55
    28
    28
    York-Hanover, PA
    61.4
    177.7
    46
    18
    29
    Baton Rouge, LA
    60.9
    369.2
    45
    16
    30
    Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
    60.8
    178.1
    12
    -18
    31
    Lansing-East Lansing, MI
    60.5
    220.5
    68
    37
    32
    Jackson, MS
    59.8
    255.5
    41
    9
    33
    Springfield, MO
    57.9
    194.1
    24
    -9
    34
    Fort Wayne, IN
    57.9
    208.3
    68
    34
    35
    Tulsa, OK
    57.3
    412.9
    37
    2
    36
    Green Bay, WI
    56.9
    166.9
    16
    -20
    37
    Columbia, SC
    56.8
    349.7
    62
    25
    38
    Anchorage, AK
    56.4
    170.0
    3
    -35
    39
    Worcester, MA-CT NECTA
    55.9
    243.9
    59
    20
    40
    Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
    55.4
    318.0
    38
    -2
    41
    Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA
    55.3
    256.6
    28
    -13
    42
    Ogden-Clearfield, UT
    54.8
    193.8
    19
    -23
    43
    Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
    54.4
    339.4
    15
    -28
    44
    Calvert-Charles-Prince George’s, MD
    53.8
    382.2
    49
    5
    45
    Honolulu, HI
    52.9
    441.9
    13
    3
    46
    Madison, WI
    49.1
    344.3
    33
    -13
    47
    Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
    48.5
    321.6
    48
    1
    48
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
    48.4
    437.8
    59
    11
    49
    New Haven, CT NECTA
    47.9
    268.5
    44
    -5
    50
    Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
    47.7
    205.4
    89
    39
    51
    Gary, IN Metropolitan Division
    47.2
    268.5
    76
    25
    52
    Tacoma, WA Metropolitan Division
    47.0
    265.8
    39
    -13
    53
    Boise City-Nampa, ID
    47.0
    256.8
    71
    18
    54
    Lexington-Fayette, KY
    46.5
    249.1
    14
    -40
    55
    Syracuse, NY
    46.4
    314.4
    18
    -37
    56
    Lancaster, PA
    45.0
    226.8
    62
    6
    57
    Chattanooga, TN-GA
    45.0
    233.4
    47
    -10
    58
    Dayton, OH
    44.9
    377.9
    78
    20
    59
    Huntsville, AL
    44.0
    205.6
    17
    -42
    60
    Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
    43.5
    156.9
    85
    25
    61
    Winston-Salem, NC
    43.3
    207.2
    47
    -14
    62
    Colorado Springs, CO
    43.2
    247.5
    58
    -4
    63
    Mobile, AL
    42.9
    174.7
    63
    0
    64
    Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
    42.3
    207.8
    39
    -25
    65
    Fresno, CA
    42.0
    281.2
    72
    7
    66
    Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
    41.8
    157.6
    18
    -48
    67
    Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME NECTA
    41.5
    187.0
    41
    -26
    68
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
    39.8
    275.9
    80
    12
    69
    Stockton, CA
    38.8
    189.6
    78
    9
    70
    Tucson, AZ
    38.6
    358.4
    58
    -12
    71
    Tallahassee, FL
    38.3
    169.5
    16
    -55
    72
    Springfield, MA-CT NECTA
    38.3
    285.4
    77
    5
    73
    North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL
    38.0
    242.6
    89
    16
    74
    Albuquerque, NM
    38.0
    371.0
    64
    -10
    75
    Akron, OH
    37.8
    318.1
    67
    -8
    76
    Toledo, OH
    37.2
    301.8
    95
    19
    77
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT NECTA
    36.4
    397.0
    44
    -33
    78
    Roanoke, VA
    36.0
    155.4
    51
    -27
    79
    Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division
    35.7
    373.4
    71
    -8
    80
    Spokane, WA
    34.0
    202.9
    31
    -49
    81
    Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA
    33.8
    222.9
    93
    12
    82
    Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL
    33.0
    157.6
    45
    -37
    83
    Greensboro-High Point, NC
    31.9
    345.3
    90
    7
    84
    Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division
    28.8
    331.7
    72
    -12
    85
    Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
    28.2
    193.2
    75
    -10
    86
    Reno-Sparks, NV
    27.9
    190.3
    92
    6
    87
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
    26.5
    177.2
    56
    -31
    88
    Wichita, KS
    26.4
    282.0
    64
    -24
    89
    Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
    26.4
    195.4
    70
    -19
    90
    Montgomery, AL
    25.7
    164.3
    52
    -38
    91
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
    11.4
    168.0
    88
    -3

  • Small Cities Rankings – 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth

    Read about how we selected the 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth

    2012 New Geography Rankings – SMALL (< 150k employment)

    2012  Rank Among Small Cities
    Area
    2012 Weighted INDEX
    		  

    2011 Nonfarm Employment (1000s) 
    2011 Size Ranking
    Size Movement
    1
    Odessa, TX
    99.4
    68.3
    8
    7
    2
    Midland, TX
    99.0
    75.3
    4
    2
    3
    Columbus, IN
    95.6
    47.7
    143
    140
    4
    Lafayette, LA
    92.5
    156.3
    111
    107
    5
    San Angelo, TX
    89.2
    46.7
    23
    18
    6
    Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
    87.8
    73.9
    168
    162
    7
    Casper, WY
    84.8
    40.9
    119
    112
    8
    Williamsport, PA
    83.7
    55.4
    55
    47
    9
    Glens Falls, NY
    83.0
    55.6
    59
    50
    10
    Lubbock, TX
    82.6
    131.4
    74
    64
    11
    Laredo, TX
    82.1
    95.0
    56
    45
    12
    Columbia, MO
    82.1
    96.7
    20
    8
    13
    Cumberland, MD-WV
    82.0
    41.7
    32
    19
    14
    Gainesville, GA
    81.9
    75.8
    52
    38
    15
    Portsmouth, NH-ME NECTA
    81.7
    56.0
    34
    19
    16
    Holland-Grand Haven, MI
    80.9
    113.1
    138
    122
    17
    Bismarck, ND
    79.2
    65.7
    2
    -15
    18
    Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA
    78.8
    95.1
    65
    47
    19
    State College, PA
    78.5
    76.4
    49
    30
    20
    Fargo, ND-MN
    78.4
    127.3
    29
    9
    21
    Ocean City, NJ
    78.0
    36.8
    61
    40
    22
    Owensboro, KY
    77.6
    51.8
    66
    44
    23
    Charlottesville, VA
    77.0
    102.3
    78
    55
    24
    Tyler, TX
    76.9
    96.0
    64
    40
    25
    Cheyenne, WY
    76.8
    44.7
    99
    74
    26
    Barnstable Town, MA NECTA
    76.2
    94.4
    70
    44
    27
    Longview, TX
    76.1
    98.0
    15
    -12
    28
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA
    76.0
    36.6
    135
    107
    29
    Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA
    75.8
    99.0
    17
    -12
    30
    Victoria, TX
    75.6
    50.6
    96
    66
    31
    Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX
    74.6
    129.0
    1
    -30
    32
    Grand Junction, CO
    73.8
    60.5
    142
    110
    33
    St. Joseph, MO-KS
    72.8
    60.6
    105
    72
    34
    Lafayette, IN
    72.4
    95.6
    104
    70
    35
    Pueblo, CO
    72.4
    58.7
    73
    38
    36
    Sherman-Denison, TX
    72.2
    43.6
    117
    81
    37
    Erie, PA
    72.1
    131.2
    87
    50
    38
    Fayetteville, NC
    71.7
    132.0
    98
    60
    39
    Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
    71.6
    135.9
    38
    -1
    40
    Morgantown, WV
    71.0
    66.5
    24
    -16
    41
    Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
    70.8
    81.0
    191
    150
    42
    Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
    70.7
    90.9
    84
    42
    43
    Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR
    70.6
    58.1
    45
    2
    44
    Utica-Rome, NY
    69.8
    133.1
    114
    70
    45
    Amarillo, TX
    69.7
    113.1
    67
    22
    46
    Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
    69.6
    129.5
    19
    -27
    47
    Palm Coast, FL
    69.6
    19.0
    90
    43
    48
    Rapid City, SD
    69.5
    60.5
    72
    24
    49
    Columbus, GA-AL
    69.1
    120.6
    125
    76
    50
    Winchester, VA-WV
    69.0
    56.4
    95
    45
    51
    Greeley, CO
    68.7
    80.3
    123
    72
    52
    Mankato-North Mankato, MN
    68.7
    53.5
    110
    58
    53
    Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
    68.5
    94.3
    33
    -20
    54
    Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury, MA-NH  NECTA Division
    68.3
    78.1
    42
    -12
    55
    Sioux Falls, SD
    67.4
    135.6
    71
    16
    56
    Ames, IA
    66.0
    48.2
    77
    21
    57
    Johnson City, TN
    65.9
    79.9
    102
    45
    58
    Dubuque, IA
    65.8
    56.6
    5
    -53
    59
    Logan, UT-ID
    65.6
    54.4
    9
    -50
    60
    Danbury, CT NECTA
    65.6
    67.8
    159
    99
    61
    Altoona, PA
    65.4
    61.5
    69
    8
    62
    Peabody, MA  NECTA Division
    65.3
    101.4
    149
    87
    63
    Jacksonville, NC
    65.3
    47.8
    12
    -51
    64
    Auburn-Opelika, AL
    65.1
    53.6
    21
    -43
    65
    Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA
    64.7
    38.4
    36
    -29
    66
    Harrisonburg, VA
    64.4
    63.7
    40
    -26
    67
    Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH  NECTA Division
    64.0
    117.5
    122
    55
    68
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT NECTA
    62.6
    114.2
    53
    -15
    69
    Coeur d’Alene, ID
    62.5
    53.0
    101
    32
    70
    Clarksville, TN-KY
    61.9
    84.2
    22
    -48
    71
    Joplin, MO
    61.4
    80.0
    16
    -55
    72
    Rochester-Dover, NH-ME NECTA
    61.3
    56.3
    94
    22
    73
    Danville, VA
    60.5
    40.0
    186
    113
    74
    Iowa City, IA
    60.5
    91.4
    41
    -33
    75
    Olympia, WA
    60.4
    99.4
    158
    83
    76
    Sandusky, OH
    60.2
    35.2
    60
    -16
    77
    St. Cloud, MN
    60.2
    99.6
    54
    -23
    78
    Bay City, MI
    59.3
    36.9
    205
    127
    79
    Hinesville-Fort Stewart, GA
    59.3
    19.8
    51
    -28
    80
    Las Cruces, NM
    59.2
    69.8
    43
    -37
    81
    Springfield, IL
    59.0
    111.8
    28
    -53
    82
    Napa, CA
    59.0
    60.7
    209
    127
    83
    Salinas, CA
    59.0
    123.0
    206
    123
    84
    Lewiston-Auburn, ME NECTA
    58.8
    48.7
    109
    25
    85
    Burlington, NC
    58.8
    58.0
    157
    72
    86
    Jonesboro, AR
    58.3
    49.2
    27
    -59
    87
    Kankakee-Bradley, IL
    58.1
    43.3
    85
    -2
    88
    Greenville, NC
    58.0
    75.9
    83
    -5
    89
    Manchester, NH NECTA
    57.8
    98.7
    115
    26
    90
    Decatur, IL
    57.1
    52.7
    121
    31
    91
    Appleton, WI
    57.0
    116.7
    79
    -12
    92
    Bellingham, WA
    56.5
    80.4
    204
    112
    93
    Bowling Green, KY
    56.4
    59.8
    47
    -46
    94
    Goldsboro, NC
    56.1
    43.2
    178
    84
    95
    Lebanon, PA
    56.0
    49.8
    14
    -81
    96
    Fairbanks, AK
    56.0
    37.4
    10
    -86
    97
    College Station-Bryan, TX
    55.8
    95.9
    3
    -94
    98
    Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
    55.5
    45.8
    228
    130
    99
    Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV
    55.0
    99.3
    150
    51
    100
    Merced, CA
    54.9
    56.4
    103
    3
    101
    Warner Robins, GA
    54.9
    59.2
    35
    -66
    102
    Dover, DE
    54.8
    64.3
    75
    -27
    103
    Elkhart-Goshen, IN
    54.8
    107.9
    155
    52
    104
    Kingston, NY
    54.7
    61.6
    120
    16
    105
    Charleston, WV
    54.7
    148.1
    124
    -12
    106
    Springfield, OH
    54.7
    49.9
    86
    -20
    107
    Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
    54.3
    105.9
    18
    -89
    108
    Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC
    54.2
    109.7
    39
    -69
    109
    Farmington, NM
    54.1
    48.8
    167
    58
    110
    Niles-Benton Harbor, MI
    54.0
    59.3
    82
    -28
    111
    Elizabethtown, KY
    54.0
    47.0
    11
    -100
    112
    El Centro, CA
    54.0
    45.3
    151
    39
    113
    La Crosse, WI-MN
    53.2
    73.9
    108
    -5
    114
    Naples-Marco Island, FL
    53.2
    117.5
    224
    110
    115
    Grand Forks, ND-MN
    53.1
    54.0
    30
    -85
    116
    Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ
    51.6
    59.3
    203
    87
    117
    Decatur, AL
    51.3
    54.4
    161
    44
    118
    Yakima, WA
    51.1
    75.9
    50
    -68
    119
    Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach, FL
    51.1
    71.4
    107
    -12
    120
    Monroe, LA
    51.1
    76.7
    179
    59
    121
    Corvallis, OR
    50.9
    37.8
    31
    -90
    122
    Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
    50.2
    120.1
    198
    76
    123
    Santa Fe, NM
    50.1
    61.0
    139
    16
    124
    Punta Gorda, FL
    50.0
    42.4
    145
    21
    125
    Salisbury, MD
    49.9
    52.9
    170
    45
    126
    Florence, SC
    49.6
    82.7
    173
    47
    127
    Binghamton, NY
    49.4
    109.9
    140
    13
    128
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
    49.4
    87.8
    211
    83
    129
    Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
    49.2
    73.3
    129
    0
    130
    Jefferson City, MO
    49.2
    76.9
    80
    -50
    131
    Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
    48.8
    60.2
    239
    108
    132
    South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
    48.6
    135.7
    210
    78
    133
    Bangor, ME NECTA
    48.1
    64.6
    166
    33
    134
    Kokomo, IN
    47.8
    41.6
    133
    -1
    135
    Waco, TX
    47.6
    104.4
    37
    -98
    136
    Yuba City, CA
    47.3
    37.5
    218
    82
    137
    Jackson, MI
    47.2
    54.6
    238
    101
    138
    Wheeling, WV-OH
    46.0
    66.7
    25
    -113
    139
    Macon, GA
    45.9
    96.6
    171
    32
    140
    Idaho Falls, ID
    45.6
    48.7
    134
    -6
    141
    Lewiston, ID-WA
    45.5
    26.0
    189
    48
    142
    Johnstown, PA
    45.4
    60.0
    44
    -98
    143
    Athens-Clarke County, GA
    45.4
    84.1
    89
    -54
    144
    Cedar Rapids, IA
    45.1
    136.2
    63
    -81
    145
    St. George, UT
    44.9
    46.3
    199
    54
    146
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
    44.8
    55.1
    88
    -58
    147
    Rockford, IL
    44.2
    146.8
    190
    20
    148
    Pascagoula, MS
    44.1
    56.1
    7
    -141
    149
    Bloomington-Normal, IL
    43.9
    89.8
    97
    -52
    150
    Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA
    43.7
    117.5
    160
    10
    151
    New Bedford, MA NECTA
    42.8
    64.8
    57
    -94
    152
    Topeka, KS
    42.5
    106.9
    118
    -34
    153
    Abilene, TX
    42.5
    64.7
    106
    -47
    154
    Battle Creek, MI
    42.1
    56.0
    128
    -26
    155
    Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
    42.0
    114.3
    181
    26
    156
    Manhattan, KS
    41.9
    54.5
    6
    157
    Hot Springs, AR
    41.7
    36.9
    100
    -57
    158
    Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, MA  NECTA Division
    41.6
    87.2
    58
    -100
    159
    Lawton, OK
    41.2
    42.4
    13
    -146
    160
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
    40.9
    43.6
    131
    -29
    161
    Anderson, IN
    40.6
    39.7
    175
    14
    162
    Eau Claire, WI
    40.1
    79.3
    46
    -116
    163
    Redding, CA
    40.1
    58.1
    216
    53
    164
    Billings, MT
    39.3
    76.6
    93
    -71
    165
    Fond du Lac, WI
    39.2
    45.2
    188
    23
    166
    Rochester, MN
    39.0
    101.0
    127
    -39
    167
    Lima, OH
    38.8
    52.5
    201
    34
    168
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    38.7
    93.2
    91
    -77
    169
    Hattiesburg, MS
    37.9
    58.6
    62
    -107
    170
    Alexandria, LA
    37.9
    62.6
    113
    -57
    171
    Pocatello, ID
    37.6
    36.2
    208
    37
    172
    Spartanburg, SC
    37.4
    118.0
    141
    -31
    173
    Savannah, GA
    37.3
    149.6
    126
    -8
    174
    Muncie, IN
    37.2
    50.1
    193
    19
    175
    Great Falls, MT
    36.9
    34.2
    48
    -127
    176
    Ithaca, NY
    36.7
    62.7
    26
    -150
    177
    Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, MI
    36.3
    85.0
    174
    -3
    178
    Bloomington, IN
    36.1
    81.2
    92
    -86
    179
    Wilmington, NC
    35.5
    134.3
    132
    -47
    180
    Flint, MI
    35.3
    136.6
    237
    57
    181
    Bremerton-Silverdale, WA
    35.3
    81.8
    177
    -4
    182
    Lawrence, KS
    34.5
    50.3
    165
    -17
    183
    Elmira, NY
    34.4
    39.0
    68
    -115
    184
    Salem, OR
    34.2
    141.0
    164
    -43
    185
    Danville, IL
    33.7
    29.2
    225
    40
    186
    Valdosta, GA
    33.1
    52.1
    183
    -3
    187
    Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH
    33.1
    69.2
    194
    7
    188
    Lake Charles, LA
    32.6
    88.2
    162
    -26
    189
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
    32.1
    96.0
    195
    6
    190
    Dothan, AL
    31.7
    57.7
    242
    52
    191
    Pittsfield, MA NECTA
    31.6
    34.9
    81
    -110
    192
    Missoula, MT
    31.4
    53.8
    152
    -40
    193
    Mansfield, OH
    31.2
    52.5
    232
    39
    194
    Gainesville, FL
    30.8
    125.9
    154
    -40
    195
    Visalia-Porterville, CA
    29.5
    104.5
    196
    1
    196
    Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
    29.4
    135.2
    213
    17
    197
    Bend, OR
    29.1
    60.1
    220
    23
    198
    Jackson, TN
    28.9
    58.3
    185
    -13
    199
    Medford, OR
    28.6
    75.1
    197
    -2
    200
    Gadsden, AL
    28.6
    35.6
    180
    -20
    201
    Lynchburg, VA
    27.8
    102.1
    144
    -57
    202
    Ocala, FL
    27.2
    90.9
    227
    25
    203
    Port St. Lucie, FL
    26.9
    120.5
    182
    -21
    204
    Racine, WI
    26.5
    74.8
    184
    -20
    205
    Nashua, NH-MA  NECTA Division
    26.4
    124.0
    192
    -13
    206
    Madera-Chowchilla, CA
    26.4
    31.8
    172
    -34
    207
    Norwich-New London, CT-RI NECTA
    26.3
    125.7
    163
    -44
    208
    Flagstaff, AZ
    26.2
    59.0
    76
    -132
    209
    Modesto, CA
    25.9
    142.5
    148
    20
    210
    Wausau, WI
    25.8
    66.5
    217
    7
    211
    Michigan City-La Porte, IN
    25.4
    42.3
    214
    3
    212
    Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ
    24.5
    45.6
    226
    14
    213
    Duluth, MN-WI
    24.1
    125.9
    112
    -101
    214
    Chico, CA
    23.3
    67.8
    146
    -68
    215
    Waterbury, CT NECTA
    23.3
    62.5
    202
    -13
    216
    Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL
    22.7
    43.3
    147
    -69
    217
    Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
    21.7
    142.9
    235
    -1
    218
    Wichita Falls, TX
    20.7
    57.8
    169
    -49
    219
    Terre Haute, IN
    20.6
    69.7
    137
    -82
    220
    Prescott, AZ
    20.5
    53.3
    229
    9
    221
    Cleveland, TN
    20.3
    38.5
    176
    -45
    222
    Sumter, SC
    20.0
    36.7
    156
    -66
    223
    Longview, WA
    19.2
    35.0
    212
    -11
    224
    Yuma, AZ
    19.1
    49.1
    221
    -3
    225
    Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner, MA NECTA
    18.3
    47.2
    116
    -109
    226
    Anderson, SC
    18.1
    58.2
    130
    -96
    227
    Eugene-Springfield, OR
    17.8
    138.7
    230
    -11
    228
    Pine Bluff, AR
    17.3
    36.6
    243
    15
    229
    Brunswick, GA
    17.2
    39.2
    223
    -6
    230
    Anniston-Oxford, AL
    15.8
    47.7
    215
    -15
    231
    Fort Smith, AR-OK
    13.6
    110.2
    153
    -78
    232
    Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
    13.3
    133.7
    187
    -45
    233
    Rome, GA
    13.2
    37.1
    231
    -2
    234
    Rocky Mount, NC
    12.4
    59.6
    200
    -34
    235
    Sheboygan, WI
    11.1
    57.2
    219
    -16
    236
    Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV
    10.3
    43.1
    233
    -3
    237
    Monroe, MI
    9.3
    37.0
    234
    -3
    238
    Albany, GA
    7.0
    59.3
    207
    -31
    239
    Champaign-Urbana, IL
    6.0
    103.4
    136
    -103
    240
    Carson City, NV
    5.1
    27.7
    222
    -18
    241
    Janesville, WI
    4.4
    60.0
    241
    0
    242
    Morristown, TN
    2.8
    43.6
    236
    -6
    243
    Dalton, GA
    0.5
    62.8
    240
    -3

  • Addressing Workforce Shortages in the Dakotas

    While not immune to the recession, the upper Great Plains is in a different economic situation from the rest of the nation. Growth coupled with low unemployment means more strain on the region’s workforce, making it tougher for employers to find the workers they need. It’s not so much about jobs anymore, but about finding the right workers.

    Since 2008, the region covered by Prairie Business Magazine – North Dakota, South Dakota and western Minnesota – has grown its employment by 1.8 percent, compared to a loss of 2.5 percent across the country. In addition to that growth, North Dakota alone has 21,000 unfilled jobs.

    To determine some of the toughest jobs to fill in the region in the past year we used data compiled by EMSI, Inc., a model that includes a combination of over 90 state and federal sources and includes estimates of independent contractors and others. We looked at a number of metrics, including the number of openings in the region due to growth, retirements, and turnover; the number of openings compared to the total jobs in an occupation; and the regional concentration of a job here compared to the rest of the nation.

    The occupations are separated into five groups: construction, extraction, transportation and material moving; business, finance and office; heath care; science, mathematics, engineering and computer; and manufacturing occupations.

    The construction, resource extraction and transportation category is not surprisingly dominated by the ongoing energy boom in western North Dakota. Roustabouts lead the way with 917 new jobs and 979 total openings in the past year. Other oil-related jobs such as service unit operators (781 openings), derrick operators (511), rotary drill operators (479), extraction helpers (335) and wellhead pumpers (295) all have openings above 40 percent of its 2010 employment level. We read a lot about the stress on the labor force in that region, but the numbers are astounding.

    The overall leader in total job openings across the region is heavy truck drivers, with 1,973 openings from 2010-2011. The need is most acute in oil country, but the entire region has a 70 percent higher concentration of heavy truck drivers than the national average. Of the 152 counties in our analysis, 138 have a higher concentration of heavy truck drivers than the national average.

    The national media has credited the oil boom for the economic growth. The economic benefits of the energy boom have spread across the region, but there is more to the story. While the entire region trailed the nation in job growth until 2007, the region’s five largest metropolitan areas – Bismarck, Grand Forks, Fargo, Sioux Falls and Rapid City – were well ahead of the nation through the entire decade. Now containing 39 percent of the regional jobs, these five metropolitan areas beat the nation in job growth over the decade by 10 points, 15.8 to 5.8 percent.

    It’s not just growth in retail and food service jobs. Over the past decade the five metropolitan areas added 8,000 jobs in professional, technical, and scientific services, nearly 18,000 in health care, and 8,000 in finance, with each sector paying roughly $50,000 per year. The region also added 1,500 jobs at management offices and corporate headquarters making an average of $80,000 per year. It’s time that parents in our region stop telling their kids, “you need to leave the state to find a good job.” We need to improve efforts to help students and displaced workers understand the emerging options available in the region.

    The Prairie Business region has also become a growth center for science, math, engineering and computer occupations, adding nearly 18 percent to its technical workforce in the past decade, compared to just 3.6 percent growth in the rest of the nation. The growth rate in the five metropolitan areas was more than 27 percent. Some of the most in-demand jobs include industrial engineers (91 openings), mechanical engineers (87), geological engineers (52), petroleum engineers (50) and geoscientists (45). A new program for petroleum engineers at the University of North Dakota School of Engineering and Mines may help address the shortages in these fields.

    This strong growth in engineering and technical jobs is tempered somewhat because the region still lags the nation in these occupations. The biggest gaps are in bachelor’s degree level information technology and software fields, where the region trails the nation by 25 to 40 percent in many occupations. While the region’s high growth rates are encouraging, there is still plenty of ground to make up. At the same time the region is highly concentrated in many two year level technical jobs, creating a solid foundation for technical industries to build on.

    The region’s manufacturing economy was hit hardest by the recent recession, but was booming in the six years prior and is now recovering. In demand production occupations include welders (677 openings), assemblers (604), supervisors (194), machinists (156), computer-controlled machine tool operators (107), and engine assemblers (88).

    Across the region, 52 of the 152 counties hold an above average number of production jobs. Hot spots in the region include Jerauld, Yankton and Brookings counties in South Dakota; Roseau, Nobles and Kandiyohi in Minnesota; and Sargent and Richland in North Dakota.

    Workforce and economic development agencies, educators and trainers, and the business community need to continue to actively collaborate to share information and create partnerships across state lines. Private businesses must be open to working with training and placement agencies to communicate their needs, and regional governments must be open to creating more flexible funding sources for specialized training. Educational institutions are beginning to use the ample labor market data available to tailor programs to fit the need of the region’s economy.

    Ultimately, the talent narrative in the region needs to shift away from “retaining our young people” towards recruitment of young families. Demographic data confirms the greatest shortage across the region is those age 35 – 44, and employers are reporting troubles recruiting mid-career professionals. Migration data shows that the net loss from North and South Dakota to the Minneapolis region has stopped in the past two years. The Prairie Business region is showing signs of turning the economic and demographic corner. It is now time to act to sustain the region’s long-term future.

    This piece originally appeared in Prairie Business Magazine.

    Mark Schill is Vice President of Research at Praxis Strategy Group, an economic development and research firm working with communities and states to improve their economies. He is Managing Editor of NewGeography.

    Fargo photo by David Kohlmeyer.

  • New Geography’s Most Popular Stories of 2011

    As our third full calendar year at New Geography comes to a close, here’s a look at the ten most popular stories in 2011. It’s been another year of steady growth in readership and reach for the site.  Thanks for reading and happy new year.

    10.  The Other China: Life on the Streets, A Photo Essay Argentinean architect and photographer Nicolas Marino offers a set of stunning photographs from the streets of Chengdu and Shanghai.

    9.  Six Adults and One Child in China Emma Chen and Wendell Cox outline the rising numbers of elderly and increasing age dependency ratios in China and across the globe.  Chen and Cox outline a number of solutions, including “extending work and careers into the 70s; means tested benefits; greater incentives for having children; and measures to keep housing more affordable and family friendly,” but conclude “the ultimate issue will be maintaining economic growth.”

    8.  The Texas Story is Real Aaron Renn takes a look at a number of broad-based economic measures of Texas over the past decade. He finds that “While every statistic isn’t a winner for Texas, most of them are, notably on the jobs front. And if nothing else, it does not appear that Texas purchased job growth at the expense of job quality, at least not at the aggregate level.”

    7.  Let’s Face it High Speed Rail is Dead and Obama’s High Speed Rail Obsession Aaron Renn and Joel Kotkin look at high speed rail in America from two angles, Renn from the practical and Kotkin from the political.  According to Renn: “In short, it’s time to stop pretending we are going to get a massive nationwide HSR rail network any time soon.  Advocates should instead focus on building a serious system in a demonstration corridor that can built credibility for American high speed rail, then built incrementally from there.” Kotkin’s piece also appeared at Forbes.com.

    6.  America’s Biggest Brain Magnets Joel Kotkin and Wendell Cox use American Community Survey data to estimate the biggest gainers of bachelor’s degree holders in U.S. regions.  The big winners:  New Orleans, Raleigh, Austin, Nashville, and Kansas City. This piece also appeared at Forbes.com.

    5.  The Next Boom Towns in the U.S. Joel Kotkin examines the U.S. regions most primed for future growth, based on my analysis of six forward-looking metrics.  “People create economies and they tend to vote with their feet when they choose to locate their families as well as their businesses.  This will prove   more decisive in shaping future growth than the hip imagery and big city-oriented PR flackery that dominate media coverage of America’s changing regions.” The piece also appeared at Forbes.com.

    4.  The Decline and Fall of the French Language Gary Girod wonders if the French language is declining in worldwide significance.

    3.  Census 2010 Offers a Portrait of America in Transition Aaron Renn’s summary of this spring’s new Census 2010 results includes eight county and metropolitan area level maps showing population change and shifts in racial group concentrations.

    2.  The Golden State is Crumbling In this piece, also appearing at The Daily Beast, Joel Kotkin blames California’s stagnancy on self-imposed policy decisions.  While the state has many assets and is rich in promise “the state will never return until the success of the current crop of puerile billionaires can be extended to enrich the wider citizenry. Until the current regime is toppled, California’s decline—in moral as well as economic terms—will continue, to the consternation of those of us who embraced it as our home for so many years.”

    1.  Best Cities for Jobs 2011 Our best cities rankings measure one thing: job growth.  This purposefully simple approach leaves out other less tangible measures of such as quality of life or other amenity indicators, leaving you with a tool to use creating policy for your region.

  • Manufacturing Executives Predict Jobs will Return to the U.S.

    A recent poll of 3,000 C-level manufacturing company executives found that 85% see certain manufacturing functions returning to the U.S., citing increasing costs overseas (37%), logistics/delivery demands (20%), quality issues (7%) and other reasons (37%).

    From the Cook Associates Survey:

    85 percent of manufacturing executives see the possibility of certain manufacturing operations returning to the U.S., with 37 percent citing overseas costs as the major factor. Nineteen percent cited logistics and 36 percent stipulated other reasons, including economic/political issues, quality and safety concerns, patriotism and overseas skills shortages for highly technical manufacturing processes.

    Cook Associates Executive Search polled nearly 3,000 manufacturing executives primarily in small- to mid-sized U.S. companies from October 13 through November 18, 2011. Participants consisted of C-level executives (CEO, CFO, COO) and key functional Vice Presidents (Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain).The survey data was supplemented by written comments submitted by individual executives.

    The survey identified low-volume, high-precision, high-mix operations, automated manufacturing and engineered products requiring technology improvements or innovation as the primary forms of manufacturing returning to the States.