Atlanta tops list of career-friendly cities for graduates

With graduation season approaching and many employers still experiencing a labor shortage, personal finance website WalletHub released its report this week on the best and worst places to start a career in 2024, plus expert commentary to help recent graduates launch their careers in the right place. Atlanta, Georgia tops the rankings, while New York, New York, is ranked as the least career-friendly city to start out in. The highest-rated California city was Sacramento, which ranked 38th overall, while the lowest-rated city was Santa Clarita, falling into the bottom five at number 179.

WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 26 key career-friendliness metrics. The data set ranges from entry-level job availability to average monthly starting salary to housing affordability.

Best Places to Start a Career

The top 10 cities to start a career are Atlanta, Georgia; Orlando, Florida; Salt Lake City, UT; Tampa, Florida; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Portland, ME; Charleston, South Carolina; Austin, TX; Miami, Florida; and Knoxville, Tennessee.

The worst places to start a career

The cities at the bottom of the list, ranked 173 to 182, are Oxnard, California; Jackson, MS; Detroit, Michigan; Newark, New Jersey; Cape Coral, Florida; Yonkers, New York; St. Clair; CALIFORNIA; Pembroke Pines, Florida; Bridgeport, Conn.; and New York, New York.

The best against the worst

Austin, Texas, has the highest average starting monthly salary (adjusted for cost of living), three times higher than Juneau, Alaska, the city with the lowest.

Columbia, Maryland, has the highest median annual household income (adjusted for cost of living), 3.3 times higher than Detroit, the city with the lowest income.

Oxnard, California has the highest workforce diversity, which is 2.3 times higher than New Haven, Connecticut, the city with the lowest diversity.

Miami and Hialeah, Florida have the lowest unemployment rate, 5.9 times lower than Detroit, the city with the highest unemployment rate.

“The transition from school to the workforce can be a difficult and stressful process, but some cities make it much easier than others. The best cities to start a career not only offer plentiful job opportunities, but also offer substantial income growth potential and satisfactory working conditions,” said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. “It’s also important to consider factors such as how fun a city is to live in or how nice a place it is to raise a family, to ensure a satisfying life outside of your career.”

To view the full report, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-to-start-a-career/3626

Expert commentary

What can municipal decision-makers and businesses do to attract and retain young graduates?

“Incentives are a good way to attract graduates to a city. This can include housing and transportation subsidies, property tax breaks during the early years, and social events attracting young professionals.

Dr. Aaron C. Clark, DTE – Professor; Co-Director of Engineering Education, North Carolina State University

“Some of the biggest issues I hear undergraduate and graduate students discuss when thinking about where to live after graduation are the cost of living crisis and the availability of well-paying jobs in their field. The availability of jobs seems like common sense and is understandable given their career aspirations and desire to make the most of their college years (and their financial and personal costs), but cities that have lots of professional jobs also tend to be the most expensive. . So this is an increasingly difficult tension for them to manage, and if cities and employers want to continue to attract more top talent, they will need to seriously address this growing problem. Of course, people have been working on the cost of living crisis for years and it’s particularly difficult, but without more affordable housing and stabilizing spending in other areas, the main solution seems to be higher wages, which is definitely under control. organizations that employ.

Matthew T. Hora – associate professor; Founding Director, Center for Research on College-to-Work Transitions, University of Wisconsin-Madison

What is the biggest professional mistake young people make?

“The biggest professional mistake young people make is talking more than listening and acting as if they have all the answers. Listening is the unsung hero for developing strong relationships with your colleagues. Recent graduates who listen to their new colleagues, ask their perspectives on workplace issues, and respect their seniority in the field are the ones who typically position themselves for success and advancement within that organization. Conversely, recent graduates who lack humility and come across as overly confident and entitled are more likely to be overlooked for advancement opportunities.

Bob Orndorff, D.Ed. – Senior Director, Career Services; Affiliate Associate Professor, The Pennsylvania State University

“Not exposing yourself to a wide range of job roles and industries outside of just doctor, lawyer, businessman… (fill in the blank).” There are thousands of potential careers and it is up to young people to work with a career advisor to review the categories and create a career action plan. This plan will help young people translate their values, interests, skills and aspirations into the working language. Another mistake we all make is underestimating the value of cultivating personal and professional networks. The majority of opportunities, whether internships or postgraduate jobs, come from the “hidden job market”.

Don Kjelleren – executive director, ’68 Center for Career Exploration, Williams College

What will the entry-level job market look like in 2024?

“Hybrid jobs are here to stay, in sectors where work can be done from home. Working in person less than five days a week will allow some people to live further from their office. New graduates should know at least the basics of artificial intelligence (AI), as it will eventually permeate all professions. Get ahead now. Find out what’s coming. Be ahead of the curve to stay competitive. Use free or low-cost resources to continue learning and earn industry-recognized credentials, such as certificates and badges. Upskilling will be crucial for career advancement.

Robbin Beauchamp, MS, GCDF – Assistant Provost, Cooperative Education and Career Development, Wentworth Institute of Technology