AFP
Where the Jobs Are
By Venessa Wong
Many Americans, eager to shake off gloomy memories of recent years, are searching for a fresh start. The National Bureau of Economic Research may say the recession is behind us (for now), but the job markets in most areas have yet to rebound significantly. Millions are still looking for stable employment. Fortunately, mobile Americans are not known to shy from moving for opportunities. To identify where job-seekers have a shot at a second chance, Businessweek.com evaluated 100 metro areas based on employers' 2010 Q1-Q4 hiring expectations in Manpower's quarterly Employment Outlook Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment rate data, year-on-year change in unemployment, and year-on-year change in number of jobs. Several metro areas in Texas--Houston, El Paso, Austin, and San Antonio--as well in New York--Albany, Rochester, Poughkeepsie, Syracuse, and Buffalo--ranked high, though none of these places took the top spot. Most places on the list share a stable employment base in government, health care, and education, as well as programs and resources to support startups, especially in the high-tech sector.
Click here to see the 20 best places in the U.S. to start over.
