Glassdoor has just released the Best Cities for Jobs in 2017, which ranks the top U.S. cities according to their Glassdoor City Score, a figure determined by weighing three factors equally: how easy it is to get a job, how affordable it is to live there, and how satisfied employees are working there.* If your company is in one of these cities, you benefit from drawing the kind of informed candidates to your city who recognize that it’s smart to find work in a place where there’s a great market for jobs combined with a relatively low cost of living. But how do you stand out in these markets where jobs abound?
Here are the 5 best cities for jobs in 2017 – and how your company can stand out in each:
1.) Pittsburgh, PA
Glassdoor City Score (out of 5): 4.4
Job Openings: 95,399
Median Base Salary: $44,000
Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.2
Median Home Value: $137,400
The Steel City hits the sweet spot between a reasonable cost of living (it was the third most affordable among the top 50 metros we studied based on median salary compared to median home value), tons of open jobs and generally satisfied employees. Traditionally known as an industrial hub, Pittsburgh has seen a revitalization in recent years, with booming healthcare, education and tourism sectors. Your employees get their fill of culture at one of the city’s many art museums, or their sports fix from a Steelers or Penguins game.
How to stand out in Pittsburg:
In a place like Pittsburg, PA, where people know they have a prime cost-to-income ratio, it’s all about benefits. Learn more about exactly what benefits employees value the most in Glassdoor’s eBook, Benefits Employees Want Most.
2.) Indianapolis, IN
Glassdoor City Score: 4.4
Job Openings: 80,561
Median Base Salary: $43,000
Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3
Median Home Value: $138,100
Known as the Crossroads of America, Indiana is located within a single-day drive of 70 percent of the nation's population. While the majority of the city’s economy is driven by finance, insurance and manufacturing, it’s also seen a tech boom over the years, with companies like Salesforce setting up shop there.
How to stand out in Indianapolis:
Since Indianapolis is in the middle of a tech boom, it’s key to differentiate yourself with a great company culture – a hallmark of well-known industry greats. Employees here want to feel like they’re on the cutting edge, working for one of the leading tech companies in the area. So it’s key to build your employer brand to attract top talent. To get it right, read ourEmployer Branding for Dummies eBook.
Glassdoor City Score: 4.4
Job Openings: 90,649
Median Base Salary: $45,000
Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3
Median Home Value: $159,400
The largest city in the Show Me State, Kansas City is a hub for great barbecue, live music and, of course, plenty of open jobs. The federal government is one of the largest employers in KC, with a significant presence from the IRS, Social Security Administration and US Postal Office. Hot tip: Kansas City is also vying hard to become home to Amazon’s newly announced second headquarters.
How to stand out in Kansas City:
With many millennials flocking to Kansas City for its desirable cost of living and optimal job market in the context of an exciting metropolitan area, it’s important for recruiters to appeal to 20-somethings. Glassdoor’s New Grad Recruiting Kit is your one-stop guide to attracting and retaining the next generation of top performers.
Glassdoor City Score: 4.4
Job Openings: 65,810
Median Base Salary: $50,000
Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4
Median Home Value: $228,200
Smack dab in the middle of the Research Triangle – the area between North Carolina State University, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Raleigh-Durham is home to many jobs in academia, tech and healthcare. Given the close proximity to three major universities, Raleigh-Durham is a college sports fan’s dream, with the Duke University Blue Devils and UNC Tar Heels among the best historical college basketball teams in the country. But while college sports here may be intensely competitive, the job hunt isn’t – Raleigh-Durham is ranked the second-best city for hiring opportunity, based on the ratio of current job openings to population.
How to stand out in Raleigh-Durham:
In a place like Research Triangle where there is a very high concentration of qualified talent, it’s critical to have a thoughtful interview process in place. Our Master Interviewing Toolkit pulls together the leading methods for planning and executing great interviews, so you can easily build a structured approach that serves both candidates and hiring managers. Candidates benefit by getting a robust image of what it would be like to take a position with your company before they accept, and employers benefit by making great hires while building a positive public image of their employer brand.
5.) St. Louis, MO
Glassdoor City Score: 4.4
Job Openings: 104,725
Median Base Salary: $45,600
Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4
Median Home Value: $148,600
The second Missouri city to crack our top-five list, St. Louis is home to a number of major corporations like Nestlé Purina, Panera and Anheuser-Busch. St. Louis’ picturesque Gateway Arch draws in a great deal of tourism throughout the year, as does its unique food scene with local dishes such as St. Louis–style pizza, ribs and toasted ravioli.
How to stand out in St. Louis:
In a place like St. Louis with many well-established employer brands, it’s important to be mindful of the fact that the candidate journey isn’t linear. Job seekers in your area expect each of many interactions with your brand to be personalized, human and transparent. And content is one of the best ways to reach people in meaningful ways throughout their unique career journey, while standing out from competitors and attracting the right people to apply to your jobs. Read more about How to Recruit with Content in our eBook partnership with SmashFly.
Surprised to not see tech and finance hubs like San Francisco or New York on here? That’s no coincidence.
“Big, metropolitan cities may be more famous than others, including being home to some amazing companies to work for, but this recognition is also what contributes to them being among the most expensive places to live,” says Glassdoor Chief Economist Dr. Andrew Chamberlain. “People may be overlooking midsize cities like Pittsburgh or St. Louis if they are looking to relocate or find new opportunities. What this jobs report shows is that many midsize cities stand out for offering a great mix of a thriving job market with plenty of opportunity, paired with home affordability and being regions where employees are more satisfied in their jobs too.”
Check out our full list of Best Cities for Jobs in 2017!
*Methodology: Glassdoor’s Best Cities for Jobs report identifies U.S. metros with the highest overall Glassdoor City Score, based on a comparison of the 50 most populated U.S. metros. Each region’s Glassdoor City Score, based on a 5-point scale (5.0=best city for a job, 1.0=worst city for a job), is determined by weighing three factors equally: hiring opportunity, cost of living and job satisfaction.
- Hiring opportunity is determined by the ratio of active job openings to population. (Job openings per metro represent active job listings on Glassdoor as of 8/15/17. Population data is according to the United States Census Bureau).
- Cost of living is determined by the ratio of median annual base salary to median metro home value. (Median annual base salary per metro based on at least 2,500 salary reports shared by local employees on Glassdoor over the past year [8/16/16-8/15/17]). Median home value is according to the Zillow Home Value Index for All Homes, as of June 2017).
- Job satisfaction ratings per metro is based on at least 1,500 company reviews shared by local employees on Glassdoor over the past year (8/16/16-8/15/17; Ratings based on a 5-point scale: 1.0=very dissatisfied, 3.0=OK, 5.0=very satisfied).
