Is Boise a city on the rise? Where it ranks on LinkedIn's hot-spot list
The Cities on the Rise list of 25 mid-sized U.S. metros highlights where hiring is growing, job postings are on the rise and more professionals are choosing to move. The ranking aims to highlight smaller cities offering opportunity and affordability, said Andrew Seaman, LinkedIn's editor at large for jobs & career development.
'We want this list to showcase smaller, maybe more approachable metro areas that are seeing strong growth in hiring,' Seaman told the Idaho Statesman in an interview.
LinkedIn's analysis found that more than half of job seekers are willing to move for work, with career opportunities serving as a major driver behind long-distance relocation.
The ranking comes after Idaho snagged third place in the U.S. News & World Report annual 'Best States' ranking. That report evaluated states based on 71 metrics across eight categories: health care, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and natural environment.
The state's placement in several categories, such as fourth in economy and 10th in opportunity, helped secure the capital city second place in LinkedIn's list. LinkedIn's ranking noted Boise's rising tech and infrastructure investment.
'Micron announced that big expansion. … Meta is investing in a data center. So there are a lot of tech investments that we see as driving some of these metrics,' Seaman said.
In 2022, Micron was awarded more than $6.1 billion in federal subsidies to help pay for new chip-making plants in Boise and upstate New York, with Boise's share being $1.5 billion through the CHIPS and Science Act.
Seaman also pointed toward the capital city's health care sector, led by the St. Luke's and Saint Alphonsus health systems, and Boise State University's role in workforce development as contributing to the city's appeal.
Micron, St. Luke's, Saint Alphonsus and Boise State were among Idaho's top 10 businesses in total employees, according to a 2023 Idaho Department of Labor report.
Beyond jobs, Boise's location and lifestyle also serve as draws. With over 100 parks just in Boise, the green spaces and recreation opportunities can attract outdoor enthusiasts.
'The location is fantastic for people who like the outdoors. … That's something we're hearing from a lot of people who are starting their careers,' Seaman said.
The 25 metros on LinkedIn's 'Cities on the Rise' list
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Boise
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Albany, New York
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Portland, Maine
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Hartford, Connecticut
Nashville, Tennessee
Omaha, Nebraska
Kansas City
Wilmington, North Carolina
Richmond, Virginia
Indianapolis, Indiana
Colorado Springs
Sacramento, California
Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina
Austin, Texas
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Portland
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Reno, Nevada
San Antonio, Texas
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Pensacola, Florida
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