The US cities where it’s easiest for young graduates to find a good job have been revealed – and four out of the top five are in the south.
Though the unemployment rate is low at 4.1 percent with 6.8 million people out of work as of July 5, there are still pockets of promise for young recruits in some states.
Raleigh topped the table for the best entry-level jobs combined with the cost of living there being easier on the wallet than the big city hustle.
The North Carolina capital was followed by Austin, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Atlanta, Georgia; and Charlotte, NC in the top five cities for newly-minted grads.
Researchers from payroll provider ADP weighed wages in 55 US metro areas against the affordability of the area and hiring rates for people with a college degree.
Raleigh, North Carolina topped the table for the best entry-level jobs combined with the cost of living there being easier on the wallet than the big city hustle
Ranking second is Austin. Compared with other major cities, the Texas capital comes with a low cost of living and is home to major company hubs like the Apple campus (pictured)
With tech giants like IBM and Red Hat calling it home, Raleigh is bursting with opportunities in IT and engineering.
It’s also part of the so-called Research Triangle, named after three colleges in the area – Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University.
Major employers like Gilead Sciences, Cisco Systems and MetLife have also recently opened locations in Raleigh, company officials told the Wall Street Journal.
Ranking second is Austin. Compared with other major cities, the Texas capital comes with a relatively low cost of living.
Austin’s average monthly rent comes in at just $1,480, per Redfin – compared with $4,726 in New York City and $2,754 in Los Angeles. Raleigh’s average rent is also relatively low at $1,438 per month.
As the live music capital of the world with a thriving tech scene thanks to companies like Apple, Dell and Oracle, Austin is also a haven for young professionals.
Third place in the ADP rankings is Baltimore, where a string of new restaurant and business openings are offering plenty of entry-level jobs for graduates.
The top-ranked city for graduates of Raleigh, NC, is also part of the so-called Research Triangle, named after three colleges in the area – Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University
Ranking second for graduate job prospects is Austin, Texas. Compared with other major cities, the Texas capital comes with a relatively low cost of living
Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins University and its affiliated medical institutions are constantly on the lookout for fresh talent, and startups are thriving in this historic city.
In fourth place with a booming film industry, a growing tech sector, and major corporations like Coca-Cola and Delta Airlines, the job market in the Peach State’s capital of Atlanta is ripe with opportunities.
The city has focused on creating new careers this year, with the Metro Atlanta Chamber launching a campaign in spring aimed at professionals under the age of 40 to promote diverse job routes.
Coming in fifth in the ADP rankings is another North Carolina metropolis.
Tech firms in the city of Charlotte have been on a hiring spree, meanwhile Bank of America told the Wall Street Journal bosses have been focused on recruiting students from the state.
