Despite inflation and projections of an impending recession, the U.S. job market has continued to grow. In 2023, workplaces are predicted to continue adapting to post-pandemic practices like remote and hybrid work models, four-day work weeks, and more. If you’re considering moving for a career change in 2023, check out these 13 cities that offer growing job markets and career opportunities!
Austin, TX
Photo via @wallerhouse
- Population: 907,779
- Home Price: $257,800 median purchase price; $1,106 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
- 2021 Job Growth: 3.5%
With key industries including technology, finance, manufacturing, and healthcare, Austin offers a booming job market and is one of the top cities for young professionals! As one of the best cities for employment, The Lone Star State capital is amongst the top 50 metropolitan areas for job growth, having added 75,000 new jobs within a 12-month period. This increase in jobs is partially due to companies relocating from Silicon Valley to Texas—including software giants such as Oracle, FileTrail, and QuestionPro, as well as technology investment firm 8VC. Major tech companies like Dell, IBM, Apple Inc, Tesla, and Meta also have a significant presence in the Silicon Hills area. Those working in the health sector can find jobs through ATX organizations like St. David’s HealthCare Partnership, Luminex, and Ascension Seton—while education professionals can pursue careers at the Austin Independent School District or the University of Texas at Austin. Looking for employment opportunities outside of these fields? Keller Williams Realty, Arrow Value Recovery, and Whole Foods Market are some of the biggest employers in Austin.
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Boise, ID
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- Population: 218,677
- Home Price: $191,000 median purchase price; $834 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
- 2021 Job Growth: 3.6%
One of the best places to live in the Pacific Northwest, Boise is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, experiencing a population boom, an expanding tech industry, and low cost of living—making it a top city for jobs in 2023. No wonder why Idaho’s capital city was a top destination for people in 2022! Large employers in Boise include the likes of Fortune 500 company Micron Technologies, supermarket chains WinCo Foods and Albertsons, and brokerage firm Colliers. Boise’s abundance of tech companies and entrepreneurial startups like Zennify, Vynyl, and Tackle help attract an educated workforce. Plus, young professionals wanting to live in a city near the mountains will find Boise offers plenty of outdoor recreation and further educational opportunities at Boise State University or various trade and technical schools.
Columbia, MD
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- Population: 103,439
- Home Price: $364,900 median purchase price; $1,604 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 4.0%
- 2022 Job Growth: 0.7%
Columbia is one of the best cities to live in Maryland and has been amongst the best cities for jobs two years in a row, with residents earning a significantly higher income per capita than the national average. Located between Washington, DC and Baltimore, Columbia offers opportunities in healthcare, education, and more. More than 50 nonprofit organizations and 2,500 companies employ the residents of Columbia. Top employers include healthcare organizations like Maxim Healthcare Services, MedStar Health, and Howard County General Hospital, a branch of the Johns Hopkins Medical System. You can also find job opportunities with top employers in Columbia like Booz Allen Hamilton and Jacobs Engineering Group. The Columbia Association is another major employer, ideal for those interested in maintaining community amenities like swimming pools, parks, and clubs.
Nashua, NH
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- Population: 87,279
- Home Price: $239,100 median purchase price; $1,155 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 4.2%
- 2022 Job Growth: 2.1%
Not only is Hew Hampshire one of the top states in the U.S. to find a job—with as many as 65,000 job openings that need to be filled—but Nashua is also a great city to find a high-paying job without taking a hit to quality of life. Major industries include education, manufacturing, and healthcare. Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital & Trauma Center are two of the largest employers in the city. Another major draw to the area is BAE Systems, an aerospace company that has opportunities in defense and security. Young professionals in the area can take advantage of iUGO, an organization that offers social and professional networking. With no state sales or income tax helping make this an affordable place to live, New Hampshire’s Gate City could be the city you choose to advance your career!
Nashville, TN
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- Population: 643,771
- Home Price: $174,600 median purchase price; $902 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 4.3%
- 2021 Job Growth: 2.4%
Nashville is not only one of the best places to live in the Southeast, it’s also one of the best cities for jobs! Of course, tourism and music are Nashville’s most well-known industries, but the city is also a major hub for healthcare entrepreneurship. Music City offers employment with entertainment companies such as Sony Music Entertainment, RCA Records Label, and Warner Music Group. That said, the Athens of the South is also a hotspot for tech startups like Marigold and Vori Health, as well as global tech services like Asurion. Because it’s a top industry, some of the biggest healthcare employers in the area include Vanderbilt University Medical Center and HCA Healthcare. Or you can find manufacturing jobs with companies like General Motors and Nissan North America. Don’t have the skills for the job you want? No problem! There are plenty of universities and trade schools in Nashville that can help you expand your career opportunities, including Nashville State Community College, Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University, and Nashville Software School.
Orlando, FL
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- Population: 263,306
- Home Price: $172,100 median purchase price; $1,040 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 5.9%
- 2022 Job Growth: 3.9%
Orlando may be known for beautiful tropical weather, but this city also has a lot to offer to young professionals and anyone looking to grow their career. Most prominently, the City of Light’s robust hospitality and tourism industry brings in millions of visitors a year—which not only keeps local professionals employed, but also boosts Orlando’s economy. Plus, residents are able to save more of their hard-earned money thanks to no state income tax and a low sales tax, giving Orlando an affordable cost of living. While tourism-centric companies like Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, and Sea World are well-known Orlando employers, residents can find work in other industries, as well. The city’s home to Orlando International Airport—one of the largest airports in the U.S.—and is served by more than 30 airlines hiring those pursuing careers in commercial aviation. There are also plenty of opportunities to work in aerospace and defense at companies like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin—or commute for jobs at NASA‘s Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX, or Blue Origin. Those looking for manufacturing jobs can look for openings at General Electric and Tupperware—while those in healthcare can find employment at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Orlando Health, and AdventHealth, Orlando’s second largest employer.
Plano, TX
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- Population: 279,088
- Home Price: $248,800 median purchase price; $1,196 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
- 2022 Job Growth: 3.3%
Looking to move to a growing city but don’t want to feel crowded? Check out Plano! Located just north of Dallas and Fort Worth, this Texas city has grown along with the rest of the DFW metro without sacrificing its small-town feel. People wanting to get away from expensive big cities can stretch their dollar even further in Plano thanks to an increase in salaries and no state income tax. And while affordability is a big reason why people live in Plano, people are also moving here because of the jobs. With four Fortune 500 companies calling Plano home already, the city is expecting employment to increase by 44.6% over the next ten years. Relocations from employers like DZS Inc and Tipalti highlight a trend of businesses looking to move to this area as an opportunity to expand their operations.
Portland, ME
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- Population: 66,649
- Home Price: $248,000 median purchase price; $969 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 4.0%
- 2022 Job Growth: 1.2%
Portland, Maine is a great option for people who are looking for jobs in one of the best places to live on the East Coast. The Portland MSA has the strongest market in the state and above-average rates of growth. But more tangibly, between just 2015 and 2020, Portland saw a 27% growth in their tech industries compared to the approximate 9% growth around the country. As one can imagine, Portland’s East Coast location provides a thriving harbor industry, which has broken commercial fishing records and is ideal for those looking to get into fishing or aquaculture. Forest City residents can also find employment with major regional employers, such as animal health company Covetrus, Unum Insurance, or L.L. Bean—which is headquartered in nearby Freeport. If you’re in tech, consider technology companies in Portland like Peapod Digital Labs, ServiceNow, or Emburse.
Raleigh, NC
Photo via @jonathan.mcrae
- Population: 441,326
- Home Price: $218,200 median purchase price; $966 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 4.3%
- 2022 Job Growth: 3.0%
As one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., Raleigh is expecting to see a lot of job growth over the next ten years. Education, manufacturing, and trade are major local industries—but the City of Oaks is also an emerging tech epicenter, as Apple and Google join Red Hat and CentOS in building Raleigh campuses. Residents can find jobs with small and large businesses like TotalEnergies, one of the largest oil companies in the world, Fortune 500 company Advance Auto Parts, or start-ups like Pendo and PrecisionHawk. Nearby North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill aren’t just big employers for the residents of Raleigh—their graduates also feed into a developing tech market that’s expected to be one of East Coast’s biggest tech hubs by 2025. Additionally, Research Triangle Park provides opportunities in a variety of industries like biomanufacturing and agricultural biotechnology at world-class companies like AgBiome, KBI Biopharma, and Clean Volt.
Salt Lake City, UT
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- Population: 191,446
- Home Price: $248,700 median purchase price; $844 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
- 2022 Job Growth: 1.5%
The Crossroads of the West is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., projected to grow by 2.2 million residents by 2060. Salt Lake City is also one of the best cities for remote work, with several major industries available in the area that provide remote and hybrid opportunities. Top industries in SLC include software, healthcare, and finance at companies like Zion’s Bank, Intermountain Healthcare, and EPAM Systems. For those interested in retail, jobs with Associated Food Stores or Alsco could be the ideal choice for you. The Silicon Slopes has become a major contender in the tech industry because of its affordability. It’s even said to have more “unicorns“—startups with a valuation of over $1 billion—than any other state in the country. If you’re looking for tech jobs in Salt Lake City, consider BambooHR, Artemis Health, or Boom Interactive.
San Francisco, CA
Photo via @milomodus
- Population: 850,282
- Home Price: $858,800 median purchase price; $1,632 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 4.3%
- 2022 Job Growth: 1.3%
Consider the Golden City when looking for a new job in 2023. As technology continues to grow as an industry, job seekers in San Francisco will benefit from the 212,000 tech positions the city is expected to have by 2026. Of course, San Francisco is a haven for IT and software innovation, with over 300 firms in Silicon Valley. Tech giants like Twitter, Salesforce, Visa, and Lyft are headquartered in the Bay Area. The city’s cleantech companies—including EcoFlow, Aurora Solar, and Sunrun—make it a cornerstone in the industry, as well as make the city even more attractive to employees looking to work in offices using alternative and renewable energy. With an abundance of SF startups supported by $105 billion, recent graduates and young professionals will find no shortage of opportunities. This major Pacific Northwest city is also a major contributor to the Northern California Life Science industry with the University of San Francisco, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, and Stanford University facilitating biotech programs that stand above others around the world.
Scottsdale, AZ
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- Population: 234,495
- Home Price: $405,500 median purchase price; $1,184 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 3.1%
- 2022 Job Growth: 3.3%
Scottsdale has been one of the best cities for jobs for years, and 2023 is no exception. Although tourism is the city’s main economic driver, aviation is a growing industry with the Scottsdale Airport bringing nearly $3 billion annually to the economy. Plus, most of Scottsdale’s software companies are forecasted to grow their employment by 10% over the next five years thanks to tech companies like YellowBird, Emerge, Paradox, and website-building giant GoDaddy. While tech is a significant sector, Scottsdale has more recently seen an increase in demand for healthcare professionals. In fact, the industry is rapidly growing with no sign of slowing down, with Scottsdale’s largest employers including HonorHealth, Magellan Healthcare, and the Massage Envy headquarters. But perhaps the top reason why Scottsdale is one of the top places for jobs this year, is the Talent Accelerator Initiative—a partnership between local employers and college systems like Arizona State University and Scottsdale Community College that hires applicants willing to relocate for work in 2023.
Seattle, WA
Photo via @andrew.bondarchuk
- Population: 668,849
- Home Price: $484,600 median purchase price; $1,266 median monthly rent
- Unemployment Rate: 3.7%
- 2022 Job Growth: 2.6%
Seattle is one of the best cities to start a career—especially for young professionals! This Pacific Northwest city continues to lead the U.S. in tech job creation, with top companies including PitchBook, ExtraHop, GettyImages, and F5 Networks. Even without its renowned tech scene, the Seattle area is home to several Fortune 500 companies like Starbucks, Nordstrom, Weyerhaeuser, and Amazon, offering diverse employment opportunities. If you work in healthcare, Advanced Health Institute, Providence, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center employ thousands in Emerald City. Seattle also has diverse job opportunities in industries like manufacturing and even the real estate market, with companies like Zillow, CBRE, and JJL Seattle.
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Population, housing prices, and unemployment statistics from AreaVibes. Job growth statistics from BestPlaces.