Beyond salary and the job itself, there are other factors that can make a city a good place to work, says Sneha Puri, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab.
That’s how the Boston metro areathat offers strong career mobility and economic opportunity tops Indeed’s new rankings. The job search platform’s Best Cities for Work list was based on an analysis of more than 200 metro areas with more than 200,000 residents. The dozens of measures used fell into six dimensions: job opportunities, pay, quality and security of jobs, career mobility and dynamism, work life and flexibilityand economic opportunities.
Below you will find the top 10 metros, along with the category that stands out the most.
Puri said the Boston metro area is ranked No. 1 for its “all-around balance,” which ranks quite well in all categories. The metro’s highest rank was for career mobility, at No. 2, and the lowest was for employment, at No. 14. Boston employs people in a variety of industries, many in healthcare and professional and business services. Several major colleges and universities are located in this metropolis, including Harvard Universitywhich could be an opportunity for people who want to work in academia or continue their education while working.
Boston’s robust hybrid work options can help employers attract “elite talent,” and its remote and hybrid flexibility “enables employees to find a lifestyle that respects personal time without sacrificing access to high-paying elite industries or requiring a rigid, traditional 9-to-5 desk presence.” Bostonians enjoying themselves happy hour with colleagues after work or if you want a bite to eat with friends, it shouldn’t take too much effort to go somewhere. In fact, the metro ranks #10 in restaurant density. Childcare and housing costs were among the weakest performing figures.
Puri said the Washington, DCmetro performed strongly in some pillars, but less well in others. Puri said the high ranking in career mobility and dynamism suggests that job seekers should not have too much difficulty changing jobs as there are many different employers.
Still, the platform’s job vacancy tracker shows that opportunities are lower than in February 2020. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data showed that the jobs with the highest employment rate in the metro area, relative to national employment levels, were political scientists, economists and astronomers.
The Metro ranks No. 25 for average commute time, one of the weaker metrics, No. 2 for transportation costs and No. 9 for walkability.
“You can easily live car-free and save thousands of dollars every year on gas, parking and maintenance,” according to Indeed.
The Burlington, Vermontmetropolitan area ranked No. 3, with the standout pillar being employment. Indeed’s tracker shows that the number of vacancies is above February 2020 levels. It could be a good location for healthcare professionals, as the University of Vermont Medical Center employs thousands of people, and for job seekers who want to work in person.
“Although Burlington ranks 22nd in remote/hybrid job shares, this actually highlights a unique advantage: a very stable, locally anchored labor market,” Indeed said. “Rather than temporary ‘laptop class’ roles that can be outsourced anywhere, Burlington offers entrenched, stable careers.”
Transportation costs and access to career and skills training were among the weakest figures.
Puri said an employee looking at the new list might find another city lower in the rankings suits him better because of what he prioritizes at his stage of life.
“It’s important to remember that where you are in your career will really determine what would work best for you,” Puri said.
