We keep hearing that the economy is improving, but for job seekers looking to focus their efforts in cities with the most favorable employment atmospheres, making sense of list after list of statistics can be dizzying. Some cities have low unemployment rates while others have high expectations for business growth, and still others are seeing salary booms.
So which cities are your best all-around bets for finding a new job in 2011?
1. Washington, D.C.
Why it's so great: The net percentage of companies planning to add employees is up 11 percent, it's among the top cities in the country in terms of wage growth (0.5 percent) and annual open job listings (695,566), and it's enjoying an unemployment rate significantly lower than the national average at 6.0 percent.
2. Phoenix, Ariz.
Why it's so great: The net percentage of companies planning to add employees is on the plus side by 12 percent and it's among the top five cities in the country in terms of wage growth (0.4 percent). In addition, annual open job listings are a respectable 186,657 and the unemployment rate is 8.5 percent.
3. Seattle, Wash.
Why it's so great: The unemployment rate is hovering with the national average at 9.1 percent, but it has the second-highest net percentage of companies planning to add employees this year (15 percent) and it has a nice annual open job listings count of 270,747.
4. San Diego, Calif.
Why it's so great: Despite a current unemployment rate of 10.4 percent, it's listed among the top cities for net percentage of companies planning to add employees in 2011 (11 percent) and annual open job listings (149,513), which is a winning combination.
5. Baltimore, Md.
Why it's so great: It's among the 2011 top cities nationally for annual open job listings (236,672) and wage growth (1.6 percent), and also enjoys a current below-average unemployment rate of 7.8 percent.
6. Baton Rouge, La.
Why it's so great: The net percentage of companies planning to add employees is a whopping 18 percent (the highest in the nation) and the unemployment rate is only 7.7 percent.
7. Milwaukee, Wis.
Why it's so great: It ranks third nationally for net percentage of companies planning to add employees (14 percent) and has a very respectable 7.5 percent unemployment rate.
8. New York, N.Y.
Why it's so great: Topping the nation in terms of annual open job listings (779,778), it's also among the top five for wage growth (0.4 percent) and has an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent.
