Map Shows Cities With the Best Job Markets
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Today's job market is rife with economic uncertainty, AI disruption and widespread layoffs from government agencies to tech giants.
However, where you live can play a major role in the job market you are navigating. In a new report, Checkr ranked the 100 largest U.S. cities based on job opportunities and earnings potential.
While cities like Raleigh, North Carolina. topped the list, residents in Bakersfield, California are facing more challenges in finding a job.
Why It Matters
Businesses have reached a record low for hiring, according to executive coaching and advisory firm Vistage. In a recent report, Vistage said only 42 percent of surveyed small and midsize business CEOs anticipate increasing their employee headcount in the year ahead.
That marks the lowest level since the second quarter of 2020 and is down from 45 percent in the first quarter of 2025.
What To Know
The top five cities with the best job markets in 2025, according to Checkr, were Raleigh; Nashville, Tennessee; Austin, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Portland, Maine.
While Raleigh boasted strong tech and biotech industries, proximity to top-tier universities and steady population growth, the city also offers varied high-wage opportunities and relatively affordable housing.
Nashville was a strong source of health care and entertainment jobs, along with a multitude of startups and "cultural draw," Checkr said in its report.
Austin, another Southern city in the top five, had a notable tech expansion and offers many high-paying jobs and a startup-friendly environment.
Meanwhile, the bottom five list included Bakersfield; Scranton, Pennsylvania; McAllen, Texas; Fresco, California; and Memphis, Tennessee.
"What still feels like a conundrum is how two cities just 200 miles apart—Memphis and Nashville—can have such drastically different outcomes," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek.
Bakersfield experienced a high unemployment rate and generally saw lower education attainment rates. Scranton is still recovering from industrial decline and McAllen saw consistently low wages and lack of high-growth industries.
"The problem for cities like these [is] problems tend to grow with time, as fewer jobs and opportunities for higher income lead some to leave these cities and others to rule out these locations as viable places to live," Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
Checkr ranked the cities based on new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This included factors like income growth, unemployment rate and even the percentage of households earning more than $200,000.
The Austin Food & Wine Festival at Auditorium Shores on November 2, 2024, in Austin, Texas.
The Austin Food & Wine Festival at Auditorium Shores on November 2, 2024, in Austin, Texas.What People Are Saying
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "When it comes to cities in the United States with excelling job markets, it's still largely a story of the usual suspects. Cities like Nashville, Austin and Raleigh that have benefited from booming economies and a sharp rise in population in the years leading into and during the pandemic continue to see more employment opportunities at better wages. Other cities like Jackson, Mississippi, and Toledo, Ohio, continue to struggle, as job and salary growth remain relatively low compared to the rest of the country."
Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "Cities seeing growth typically have strong sectors like tech or health care. Meanwhile, cities like Rochester and Scranton—parts of the old Rust Belt—are still feeling the effects of industrial decline. Many of the manufacturing jobs that once supported those regions have moved overseas."
What Happens Next
Thompson said in the regions that are struggling, low wages and limited wage growth are the common threads.
"It's becoming a theme across the country—employers remain hesitant to raise wages, which either pushes talent to relocate or forces industries to shrink or move abroad," he said. "That's a major reason manufacturing left in the first place: cheaper labor elsewhere. I'd like to think the outcome would be higher wages here at home, but honestly, that still feels like a pipe dream."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Is Las Vegas in Trouble?
The party may soon be over for Las Vegas, as economic challenges and a steady outflow of both visitors and residents threaten to strip the town of its title as the "entertainment capital of the world." Hotel occupancy rates are dwindling, declining tourism threatens to push Nevada's already nation-leading unemployment rate higher and casinos-once the beating heart of the Sin City economy-have extended a monthslong streak of falling revenue. According to recent data from hotel analytics provider STR, hotel occupancy dropped to 66.7 percent in early July, down nearly 17 percent from the same period last year. Vegas also recorded the steepest national declines in average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPar), the latter down 29 percent year-over-year. Data shows that visitors, both domestic and international, are increasingly steering clear of Vegas, sparked by a period of economic difficulty at home and a wider decline in inbound travel to the U.S. Jeremy Aguero, senior analyst at the Las Vegas consulting firm Applied Analysis, described this as "a pretty formidable one-two punch" for a city so heavily reliant on flows of outside cash to keep its economy afloat. "Southern Nevada is more dependent on the tourism industry than any other major market in the United States today," he said, adding that declining tourism is "having a ripple effect" throughout the city's flagship industry. Gaming revenue across Nevada fell by 2.2 percent in May compared to a year earlier, according to the state's gambling regulator, with the Vegas Strip seeing an even larger drop of 3.87 percent. Vegas's woes have been attributed in part to the high costs of visitation, with steep room rates, dining costs and pricy amenities deterring prospective visitors from spending their limited time and funds in Vegas. "From what I understand, Vegas may be setting themselves up for the same situation they went through in 2008-2009," said veteran gaming consultant Bill Zender, "over pricing the market." As well as dropping visitors, the city has also seen a significant exodus of its residents. According to June housing report, Vegas has seen the largest increase in housing inventory, with active home listings now 77 percent higher than a year ago. Robert Little, a real estate agent in Nevada, told that this was due to a marked slowdown in buyer demand, but also investors in the Vegas property market choosing to "cash out and reallocate their funds into other opportunities." Aguero told Newsweek that one could view Vegas' struggles as a symbol for the economic issues facing all Americans, which have an outsized impact given the city's economy is centered around things – gambling, lavish hotels and a booming nightlife – that would be considered discretionary and the first to go in times of economic hardship. "There are some folks that believe that Las Vegas has a tendency to be somewhat recession-resistant," he told Newsweek. "But no one ever has suggested that this community is sort of recession-proof." "When you look at consumers across the United States, what you're going to see is that consumers are being stressed relative to the cost of living," he added. A precarious national housing market, declining tourism, and heightened macroeconomic worries among America's spending population have spared few states or cities this year. Las Vegas's own weakening odds must be viewed against this backdrop, Aguero said, but added that these could nevertheless rebound in the near future. This may require adapting pricing strategies to appeal to more cash-strapped visitors, acknowledging that casino gaming is no longer the revenue driver it once was, and expanding into sports and cultural attractions to meet the tastes of the modern American consumer. "If there's one thing Las Vegas has proven since legalizing gambling in the early 1930s, it's that it is both resilient and resourceful, and it has both the infrastructure investments, but also the capability to reposition itself fairly effectively." Related Articles How to Watch Las Vegas Aces vs Dallas Wings: Live Stream WNBA, TV ChannelHow to Watch Las Vegas Aces vs Minnesota Lynx: Live Stream WNBA, Start Time, TV ChannelA'ja Wilson Makes WNBA History vs Indiana FeverEx-Raiders Coach Antonio Pierce Resurfaces With Surprising New Job 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
123-Year-Old Detroit Car Company Betting Big on Its Electric Future
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. With an influx of new models arriving in market, Cadillac is wearing the crown as America's top-selling luxury electric vehicle company, beating out the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It's a level of popularity that has led to what the brand's global vice president, John Roth, calls, "a pretty good run." That run is the product and financial realization of years of planning. The company has been on a quest to leverage strategic and creative marketing, as well as its motorsports and performance credentials, to conquest new, younger customers as part of its efforts to make Cadillac, "the most prestigious luxury brand here in America," Roth told Newsweek. The changes kicked off in 2015 and have continued through today. "As we come into 2025 this is really the epicenter of when the plan comes completely together as it relates to our product portfolio, the work that we've done around the dealer network, our marketing and advertising, what our investment in customer experience looks like, essentially everything we can do to elevate the overall brand," Roth said, noting that the plan isn't complete and that Cadillac continues to look at the horizon. Cadillac claims to be the top-selling luxury electric vehicle manufacturer. Using Cadillac-provided parameters, Newsweek was unable to confirm that claim. Fresh additions to the Cadillac lineup include the battery-electric Vistiq, Optiq and Escalade IQ SUVs. The Lyriq SUV went on sale two years ago and is slated to get a high-performance variant, Lyriq-V, soon. The forthcoming Optiq-V and Escalade IQL were revealed recently. NACS charging port on the 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V. NACS charging port on the 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V. Cadillac "Cadillac isn't just talking about transformation — it's aggressively launching products at a pace unseen from the brand in decades. Four EVs across multiple segments in quick succession is no small feat. Cadillac is finally starting to behave like a brand with something to prove and something worth chasing," Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific, told Newsweek. Roth echoed that sentiment, saying, "I got to tell you, this is one of the best product portfolios I've ever had to work with in my 30 plus years here at General Motors and Cadillac." Along with the introduction of new EVs, Cadillac has enhanced its existing portfolio, updating its CT5 and Escalade with a fresh suite of technology and refined looks. It's part of a pledge to keep its combustion engine vehicles in service for a while longer, giving buyers preference to choose gas or electric when they start their new car shopping. Outside the U.S., Cadillac continues to gain momentum as well. The company has launched its Lyriq in China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, France and Germany, among other international markets. "Models like Optiq and Vistiq show a clear intent to grow Cadillac's global EV presence beyond flagship products. While not positioned as headline-grabbers today, they serve a strategic role in normalizing Cadillac as an electric luxury brand in the market, forming the backbone of Cadillac's EV volume story," Waatti said. Seventy-nine to 80 percent of people who buy a Lyriq are conquested customers. For Optiq, that number is 76. Those customers, Roth said, are seven to eight years younger than the average age of a new car buyer in the auto industry. "Right now, Cadillac's EV lineup is surprisingly competitive — distinctive design, improved interiors, and the right tech like Super Cruise are helping the brand punch above expectations. But the window to stand out may narrow quickly. German rivals, in particular, are about to unleash their next-gen EV platforms with faster charging, better efficiency, and smarter software. Cadillac must keep up and prove that it can maintain momentum beyond the early sales success of its fresh models, amid added competitive pressure," Waatti said. "The Escalade IQ is Cadillac at its best: unapologetically bold, effortlessly recognizable, and designed with customer expectations in mind. It's poised to be a runaway success and a key bridge for loyalists transitioning to EVs. Its presence also reinforces Cadillac's role as GM's crown jewel, raising fundamental questions about whether Hummer, with its more polarizing identity and shrinking momentum, can remain viable as a parallel flagship," he continued. Cadillac also sells Celestiq, a hand-built, made-to-order, electron-powered sedan that is meant to be a showcase of the company's luxury prowess. The car debuted in 2022 and just went into production a few months ago. "The Celestiq won't move the sales needle, but it's Cadillac's most daring brand statement in decades. It's a deliberate, high-stakes bet meant to shift perception and prove the brand still knows how to lead, not follow. That kind of symbolic swing can be invaluable — or it can land with a thud if not backed by broader relevance. Right now, it's a brand-defining risk. Whether it becomes a turning point or a footnote depends on what comes next," Waatti said.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Elon Musk Shares Meme Hoping for Death of George Soros
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Elon Musk posted a meme that joked about the death of billionaire George Soros, a 94-year-old Democratic donor, following several celebrity deaths. The tech CEO shared an image of the Grim Reaper looking for Soros in a claw-grabber game on Sunday, days after the deaths of Hulk Hogan and Ozzy Osbourne. Newsweek contacted Musk for comment through the Tesla press office and the Soros Economic Development Fund via email. Why It Matters Musk has long criticized Soros. Earlier this year, he compared Soros to the Star Wars villain Darth Sidious. In 2023, Musk said Soros "hated humanity," and that "he wants to erode the very fabric of civilization." Soros regularly draws ire from conservative commentators for his prolific support of Democratic politicians and progressive causes. What To Know On Sunday, Musk shared an image of the Grim Reaper at a claw-grabbing game with the caption: "Oh no no no … first Ozzy now the Hulk? Is George Soros even in this damn thing?" The meme recharacterizes a long-standing joke in left-wing circles about Henry Kissinger that would reemerge each time a prominent celebrity died. The meme fell out of use in 2023 when Kissinger died. In right-wing circles, the meme has reemerged with Soros at the center. Comparisons between Soros and Musk have increased as Musk has stepped up his political activism and support of Republicans over the past two years. Both billionaires use their wealth to back political causes they believe in and have become symbols of ire to campaigners on the opposite side of the aisle. Elon Musk, left, in the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 30 and George Soros in Berlin on June 8, 2017. Elon Musk, left, in the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 30 and George Soros in Berlin on June 8, 2017. Getty Images In December, following Musk's involvement in Donald Trump's successful presidential campaign, Musk addressed suggestions that he was a Soros-like figure in conservative politics. "I guess someone's got to be the George Soros on the right," Musk said. "I mean, I'd call myself George Soros of the center, I think." He continued: "We obviously need to have just the basics. As President Trump rightly said, what we need is the restoration of common sense. "We want safe cities, we want secure borders, sensible spending, freedom of speech, respect for the Constitution. If that's George Soros of the right, that's me." On July 22, Osbourne, the Black Sabbath front man, died at the age of 76. On July 24, WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan died at 71. What People Are Saying Elon Musk wrote on X on January 7: "Soros really was a genius at arbitrage, whether finance or politics. He also figured out how to take a small amount of private funding and leverage that into massive government funding. Brilliant. I just wish he loved, rather than hated, humanity." What Happens Next Musk, who left his role as head of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency in May and has since had a public falling out with Trump, has announced plans to create a new "America Party" after Republicans passed the debt-increasing One Big Beautiful Bill Act earlier this month.
