There’s been no shortage of layoffs thus far in 2024 (the tech industry has been particularly hard hit) and droves of Americans are looking for work. Some have jobs but are on the hunt for a new one. The location and cost of living matter here. Some cities are better for job seekers than others.

Which are the best cities for job seekers in 2024?

There’s been no shortage of layoffs thus far in 2024 (the tech industry has been particularly hard hit) and droves of Americans are looking for work. Some have jobs but are on the hunt for a new one. The location and cost of living matter here. Some cities are better for job seekers than others.

Which are the best cities for job seekers in 2024?

Charleston, South Carolina

Total score: 87.6

Charleston is the 10th best city for job seekers, according to MoneyGeek’s analysis. Key industries in this city are aerospace, automotive, tech, defense, life sciences and logistics, as highlighted by the Charleston County Economic Development Department.

Miami

Total score: 88.3

Miami has several robust industries that job seekers should check out. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Miami has a growing education and health services market. So it’s a particularly great place for people hunting for jobs in those fields.

But living in Miami isn’t cheap; the cost of living is 21% higher than the national average and the cost of housing is 47% higher. Be sure to look for a job that offers competitive pay to cover these steep costs.

Greenville, South Carolina

Total score: 89.0

Greenville has multiple booming job sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, transportation and IT and innovation. In terms of cost, life in Greenville is quite reasonable.
 

Raleigh, North Carolina

Total score: 90.2

North Carolina is in a good position for job growth and Raleigh should benefit. The state is projected to add more than 302,000 new jobs between 2018 and 2028, making for an annual growth rate of 0.6 percent.

Dominant industries here include healthcare and social assistance, along with the professional, scientific and technical services industry.

The cost of living in Raleigh is 4% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 2% lower.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Total score: 91.0

Mining and logging, construction and manufacturing are a few of the booming industries in Salt Lake City.

From a big-picture perspective, this isn’t a cheap city. The cost of living in Salt Lake City is 8% higher than the national average, and the cost of housing is 22% higher.

Tampa, Florida

Total score: 91.5

In April 2024, FloridaCommerce announced that the Tampa metro area gained the second-highest number of private sector jobs in March 2024 among all metro areas. The area added 26,100 new private sector jobs as of March 2024, up 1.9%.

FloridaCommerce noted that the industry gaining the most jobs over the year was education and health services, increasing by 14,600.

The cost of living in Tampa is right on par with the national average; however, the cost of living is 3% lower.

Orlando

Total score: 97.3

In Orlando, the 4th best city for job seekers per the analysis, you may find career opportunities with one of the city’s major employers including the Walt Disney World Resort, AdventHealth, Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando Health, Seminole State College of Florida, Lockheed Martin and the University of Central Florida.

The cost of living in Orlando is 5% higher than the national average, and the cost of housing is 11% higher.