Top 3 Cities for Job Hunting

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You’re willing and able to make your next move. But in this economy, deciding the best spot to relocate and job hunt is a daunting task. In May, Forbes ranked Madison, Wisconsin, as the number one city for job growth in 2009, followed by Washington D.C. and Boston. Here’s some insight into why these three cities may be good candidates for relocation.

1. Madison, Wisconsin
The unemployment rate in Madison’s metro area was 6.6 percent in June compared with the national average of 9.5 percent. Madison’s job market and economy have stayed somewhat recession-proof thanks to growth in the biotech, health care and medical device industries, fueled by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

Top Industries
Based on the job growth rate from 2002 to 2007, the most recent data available from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the top industries in the state are:

1. Educational Services
2. Food Services and Drinking Places
3. Professional and Technical Services
4. Administrative and Support Services
5. Insurance Carriers and Related Activities

Major Organizations
Based on the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Largest Employer Statistics, the top five employers in Madison are:

1. University of Wisconsin
2. Madison Metropolitan School District
3. American Family Mutual Insurance Company
4. Wisconsin’s Department of Health and Family Services
5. University of Wisconsin’s Hospital and Clinics

Recommended Web Sites

• Job Center of Wisconsin’s Recommended Web Sites for Madison
• Madison Public Library’s employment page
• Madison Public Library’s local events page

2. Washington, D.C.
It’s no surprise that government is the largest employer in the nation’s capital. The abundance of local and federal government jobs has put D.C. near the top of Forbes’ list of best cities for high-paying jobs as well.

“If the District typically produces 5,000 to 6,000 jobs a year,” says Steve Moore, executive director of the Washington D.C. Economic Partnership, “Anecdotally, people are saying now that the District is expected to produce 50,000 jobs over the next three years.”

Top Industries
Based on statistics from the District of Columbia Data Book 2009, the most recent data available from the Office of Revenue Analysis, Government of the District of Columbia, the top industries are:

1. Federal Government
   “Although government jobs for the last five years haven’t been where we saw the growth, everyone expects that to change over the next three to five [years],” says Moore, explaining that more jobs will open up to help the government manage the stimulus money.
2. Health Care
3. Finance Capital
4. Tourism and Hospitality

Major Organizations
Based on information from the District of Columbia Data Book 2009, the top employers in the District of Columbia are:

1. The Federal Government
2. Healthcare: Aetna, CareFirst, Cigna, United Healthcare
3. Finance Capital: The Carlyle Group, International City Management Association, Vantage Point Advisors
4. Tourism and Hospitality: Washington Marriot Wardman Park, Hilton Washington, Grand Hyatt Washington

Recommended Web Sites

• D.C. Government’s Resident Resource Center: Finding a Home in D.C.
• D.C. Government’s Resident Resource Center: Getting Around D.C.
• D.C. Government’s Resident Resource Center: D.C. Government’s Work in D.C.

3. Boston, Massachusetts
Like Madison, research institutions and universities fuel this city’s economy. The highly educated workforce in Boston increasingly attracts biotech, software and clean technology companies to the city as well. The recession has affected Boston but it’s unemployment rate of 8.5 percent for the month of June was lower than the nation’s rate of 9.5 percent for the same period.

Top Industries:
Based on the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Leading Industries Report the top industries are:

• Financial Services
• Health Care and Life Sciences
• High Tech
• Higher Education and Consulting
• Visitor Industry

“They support half of all the jobs in the region,” says Tim Sweeney, director of Public Policy, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

The current economic environment has seen a drop in the number of jobs available in the financial sector, but Sweeney expects the top industries to remain the same over the next five to 10 years.

Major Organizations
Based on Boston Redevelopment Authority’s research, The Largest Private Employers in Boston: 2001, the major organizations are:

1. Massachusetts General Hospital
2. Fidelity Investments
3. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
4. Brigham and Women’s Hospital
5. Boston University

Recommended Web Sites

• Online Job Resources from Mass.gov
• Job Hunting Resources from Mass.gov
• Relocation information from Boston Online
• Job-Seeker Advice from Boston.com

Do Your Research
Before you make a decision, put in the time and effort to do the research to make sure that a move, and the location you want to move to, is right for you. Go to your local library to see if it has job market and industry information resources available; or ask your librarian for help pointing you in the right direction. A librarian may even be able to jump start your Internet research, and tell you the best and most credible sites to visit.