Fast-growing Southern metros offer the best job opportunities for college graduates, according to a new study.
The big picture: Birmingham, Alabama, and Tampa Bay, Florida, top the list, based on payroll processor ADP's ranking of 20-something hiring rates, wages and affordability.
The rest of the top 10 metros are:
- San Jose, California
- Columbus, Ohio
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- San Francisco
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- New York
At the bottom of the rankings are:
- Salt Lake City
- Riverside, California
- San Diego
- Portland, Oregon
What they're saying: "Even graduates who do land jobs in these metros face a tough financial tradeoff in the form of high cost of living," ADP's Sam Adieze wrote about the bottom four metros in the report.
- Researchers analyzed 53 U.S. metro areas with populations of at least 1 million.
The bottom line: Entry-level hiring is rebounding this spring — but in a tough job market, young professionals' prospects may depend on the role, sector and location, the Wall Street Journal reports.
