As many Americans leave the comfort of their academic careers, they enter the job market hopeful that they are going to land that job that allows them to take off in the career of their dreams. Due to the current economic climate, it can be harder then ever to land a job. There are, however, some cities that are proving to lead way as some of the best places in America to start your careers.
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, the capital as well as the most populous city in Iowa with just over 589,500 people, tops the list. Des Moines is the American city known for being the number one spot in the Unites States for insurance and the third largest insurance capital in the world, according to Business Wire. As of 2013, this small metropolitan city had a total gross metropolitan product of around $37 billion with a projected growth of 2.7 percent. Having the highest concentration of financial services employment, no wonder it's one of the most ideal cities to live in post graduation as you settle into the work force.
Provo, Utah
Provo, which is only about 43 miles outside of Utah’s capital city of Salt Lake, and is home to Brigham Young University. With BYU being one of the largest private higher education institutions it should come as no surprise that they are also the city's largest employer. In 2009, Where to Retire magazine listed Provo as a top choice due to the city's ability to establish and generate new careers. With a population of around 553,800 and a gross metropolitan product of around $18 billion, there are many people deciding to take advantage of Provo’s unique opportunities. In the last year, Provo as a city has seen an annual gross metropolitan product increase of around 2.9 percent, as well as toping the countries job growth chart with a 5-percent increase.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the Northern Carolina city that is commonly referred to as the “city of oaks”. Being surrounded by many prominent universities as well as many cultural and historical sites, it’s an ideal destination for many. There is a population of around 1,194,100 people and a gross metropolitan growth of around $58 billion, and an annual increase of 3.8 percent. Another huge draw for those looking to setting and start their career is that Raleigh holds the second highest rate of net migration.
Nashville, Tennessee
The country music powerhouse is home to more than its share of booming business surrounding the music industry. Being the capital city of Tennessee, there are many that flock to the city for more then just its glitz and glamour. The city is a metropolitan center for music, publishing, health care, banking and transportation services. With just over 1,647,200 people living within the city, it should come as no surprise that the gross metropolitan product was around $83 billion in 2013. It was also projected to have a gross metropolitan product growth of around 3.4 percent as well as having business costs that are around 20 percent below average.
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