Job seekers will benefit from a 4.1 percent U.S. unemployment rate—the lowest rate in 17 years—but some cities can also give job candidates a leg up on finding employment, according to a new ranking.
Wallet Hub compared over 180 U.S. cities and evaluated them based on 26 indicators of strength in the job market, including employment outlook and growth, job security and underemployment rate.
The end result was a ranking of U.S. cities that stand out as the best places to find a job.
These are the rankings in ascending order:
10. Boston
In terms of job market strength, Boston ranked seventh. Boston was also ranked the eighth-best U.S. city to live in by U.S. News & World Report.
9. Madison, Wis.
In areas such as annual income, housing affordability and family friendliness, Madison achieved exceptionally strong scores. It ranked number one in socio-economics.
8. Irvine, Calif.
This city is a master-planned community with an abundance of amenities, according to the survey. Besides its consistently strong economy, Irvine has a low unemployment rate of 2.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This city is also home to big companies such Toshiba and Capital Group and known for being a good environment for business start-ups.
7. Portland, Maine.
This metro area bolsters a community known for its farm-fresh cuisines and cobblestone streets. Portland ranked fifth for the most job opportunities and the unemployment rate has remained consistently below the national average since 2002, according to U.S. News & World Report.
6. Plano, Texas.
Plano is home to companies such as Pizza Hut, JC Penny, the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and Frito-Lay. Plano ranked third overall in the median annual income and ranked fourth in affordable housing.
5. Gilbert, Ariz.
Gilbert ranked second in median annual income and third in employment growth. The city was also ranked number one in safety, according to Business Insider.
4. Peoria, Ariz.
Peoria was ranked second for highest employment growth and 20th on Forbes Best Places to Retire in 2017. Peoria has low crime and a low median home price of $240,000, according to the Wallet Hub survey.
3. San Francisco
Top industries here include tourism, technology and business and finance. This city ranked second in average starting salary. Companies that hire in the city include Pinterest, Twitter, Uber, Lyft and Wells Fargo.
2. Scottsdale, Ariz.
Big technology and software companies have been migrating here from California, attracted to the city's lower cost of living.
1. Chandler, Ariz.
Chandler has the lowest number of working residents living below the poverty line, according to Business Insider. This location was also ranked number one in employment growth. Intel, Verizon Wireless and Paypal are some of the city's major employers.
The full report can be found here.
