Summer is almost over. At this time of the year, students are heading back to school and employees to their work. But for college graduates, this is the time when they head out to search for jobs. But the big question they face is, "Where is the best place to find a job?"
According to a recent report gathered by the National Center for Education Statistics of the US Department of Education revealed that only 64 percent of those who graduated in 2008 were able to find jobs only after a year from their graduation. This is roughly lower than the 78 percent and 79 percent in 2000 and 1994, respectively. Zip Recruiter has compiled the five best places to conduct a job search and here they are:
Best Regions
The South emerged as the best region for finding a job. It registered an unemployment rate of 5.5% and had 23 of the Top 50 job markets. The Midwest ranked second with 13 of the Top 50 markets and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. In third, the West has 10 of the Top 50 job markets and unemployment rate of 5.4%. At fourth is the Northeast with 4 of the Top 50 and a 6.3% unemployment rate.
Best Categories
When it comes to jobs, the rankings changed across the different regions. Across the country, the top five jobs are Sales, Healthcare, Trucking, IT, and Insurance. Regionally, Sales remained solid in three of the four regions. In the South, the top markets are Sales, IT, Engineering; In the Midwest, it's Engineering, Sales, Trucking, and Healthcare; Sales was the top category in the West followed by IT and Engineering. Finally, IT, Engineering, and Healthcare in the Northeast.
Best Cities
Here is a look at the top five cities for finding a lucrative career:
1. Salt Lake City, Utah
Hailed by Forbes as one of its "Best Places for Business and Careers," Salt Lake City registered an unemployment rate that is three points below the national average. It serves as a regional center for education, transport, and government services.
2. Omaha, Nebraska
Home of Warren Buffet, The city of Omaha ranked 8th in a USA Today list of the top cities with the highest number of billionaires per capita. It also emerged 8th in the number of city-based Fortune 500 companies. Omaha has an unemployment rate of 3.9% and a center for IT and telecom.
3. Madison, Wisconsin
Home of the University of Wisconsin and the state capital, Madison has a low unemployment rate that makes it attractive to job seekers. From being a government-centered economy, it has switched its sights to being a technology and health care hub.
4. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
The growing economy and low unemployment rate of the Twin Cities continue to attract skilled workers from different parts of the country. Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to five Fortune 500 companies. It is included in Kiplinger's list of "Smart Places to Live," and was ranked as one of "Seven Cool Cities" for recent graduates.
5. Des Moines, Iowa
es Moines topped the 2010 and 2013 list of Forbes' "Best Places for Business and Careers." The heart of the Hawkeye State has emerged as the hub for recession-proof industries such as insurance and health care. Recently, it made the list of NBC News' "Wealthiest City in America."
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