In the second of our series of posts exploring the most important job trends of 2014, we take a look at which places in the U.S. are the top cities for job growth.
The economy continues with what looks to be a strong, sustained jobs recovery, but some cities have done a better job than others of quickly creating jobs. We looked at job growth year over year to determine which 20 cities are creating jobs the fastest.
1. Huntsville AL – 6.1% Job Growth
The home of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center tops our list of quickly growing job markets, with strong demand in engineering and IT positions.
2. Asheville NC – 5.8% Job Growth
Asheville’s strong healthcare and education sectors continue to drive growth in the city, pushing the job creation rate up 5.8% over the last year.
3. Mesa AZ – 5.8% Job Growth
This upscale suburb of Phoenix got a boost from its robust healthcare, education, and aerospace sectors, resulting in job growth of 5.8% over 2013.
4. Montgomery AL – 5.4% Job Growth
Alabama’s second largest city – which was named an All-American city this year – had job growth of 5.4% on the strength of its cornerstone agricultural sector which, combined with a diversifying economy, drove strong job creation year over year.
5. Cedar Rapids IA – 5.4% Job Growth
Just a few years after a devastating flood, Cedar Rapids is creating jobs at a brisk pace, with its corn processions, avionics, and healthcare sectors driving growth in the City of Five Seasons.
6. Fargo ND – 5.2% Job Growth
The Gateway to the West continues to successfully diversify its economy, with the healthcare and education sectors leading the charge away from a reliance on jobs related to the historically predominant agricultural sector.
7. Evansville IN – 5.0% Job Growth
The economic engine of a tri-state region of Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois, Evansville experienced strong job growth in 2014 due to its rock solid healthcare and finance sectors.
8. Irving TX – 5.0% Job Growth
This dynamic city in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex is home to a number of corporate headquarters, including those of Exxon-Mobil and Kimberly Clark, and also boasts strong financial service and telecommunications sectors.
9. Bakersfield CA – 4.9% Job Growth
This historic town in California’s Central Valley powered its job growth with a healthy diversification of employment sectors, including oil and gas production, agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare services.
10. Honolulu HI – 4.9% Job Growth
The state capital of Hawaii has more going for it than just tourism, with trade, military activity, and manufacturing all contributing to its strong 2014 job growth.
Here’s the full list of our Top 20 Fastest Growing Job Markets in 2014:
| Job Markets | Yearly Growth | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville AL | 6.1 |
| 2 | Asheville NC | 5.8 |
| 3 | Mesa AZ | 5.8 |
| 4 | Montgomery AL | 5.4 |
| 5 | Cedar Rapids IA | 5.4 |
| 6 | Fargo ND | 5.2 |
| 7 | Evansville IN | 5.0 |
| 8 | Irving TX | 5.0 |
| 9 | Bakersfield CA | 4.9 |
| 10 | Honolulu HI | 4.9 |
| 11 | Green Bay WI | 4.9 |
| 12 | Fayetteville NC | 4.7 |
| 13 | Modesto CA | 4.6 |
| 14 | Topeka KS | 4.6 |
| 15 | Springfield MO | 4.5 |
| 16 | Wilmington NC | 4.5 |
| 17 | Greensboro NC | 4.5 |
| 18 | Springfield IL | 4.5 |
| 19 | Des Moines IA | 4.5 |
| 20 | New Haven CT | 4.5 |
