If you're seeking career advancement, moving to a city with a growing job market will likely provide opportunities in the near and long term. Choosing a location with a thriving economy can also make the transition easier for an accompanying spouse or companion seeking work.

A new job or company transfer was the top reason Americans relocated across all regions in 2023, according to the annual National Movers Study conducted by United Van Lines.

In the overall ranking of the Best Places to Live, each city’s job market – comprised of its 2023 average monthly unemployment rate and median household income – accounted for 22% of the final score.

If finding the right job is the main reason you’re looking to move to a new part of the country, you may put even more emphasis on a city’s employment prospects.

Here are the 25 strongest job markets in our ranking of 150 major U.S. cities.

25. Lincoln, Nebraska
24. Manchester, New Hampshire
23. Honolulu
22. Charlotte, North Carolina
21. Raleigh, North Carolina
20. Portland, Oregon
19. Virginia Beach, Virginia
18. Atlanta
17. Salt Lake City
16. Boise, Idaho
15. Portland, Maine
14. Boulder, Colorado
13. Washington, D.C.
12. Greenville, South Carolina
11. Denver
10. Madison, Wisconsin
9. Austin, Texas
8. Ann Arbor, Michigan
7. San Jose, California
6. Santa Barbara, California
5. Charleston, South Carolina
4. Sarasota, Florida
3. Naples, Florida
2. Seattle
1. San Francisco