Where The Jobs Are - Twin Cities Score High on Forbes List

Every day, the media is reporting about how difficult it is for recent graduates to find that first gig. Finally some good news. Earlier this week, Stephen Montemayor shared an article in Forbes, titled: Twin Cities Among Best U.S. Metros For Young Professionals. If you have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area ranks 10th for offering the best prospects for young professionals.

The area, population 3.4 million, has been a great place for young professionals to hone their crafts. According to the article, Forbes evaluated areas based on the following factors:

- Local unemployment and job growth projections for 2014-2016

- Median salaries for employed college graduates (24-34), compared to the cost-of-living index

- Number of small and large businesses per capita

- Census data on the percentage of the population (25+) that holds a bachelor’s degree or higher.

The results: the Twin Cities offer young pros a median salary of $55,800. More than 38 percent of the population has a bachelor’s degree or higher. The area’s unemployment rate is currently 4.5 percent, compared to the national rate of 6.7 percent. Not too shabby.

The Twin Cities also performed above average in the other categories. Others making the top 15 list included Raleigh, Omaha, Salt Lake City, Madison, Boise City, Provo, Austin, Denver, San Jose, Fairfield County, Seattle, Oklahoma City and San Francisco.

So, if you’re one of the millions of recent college grads still seeking that first job, be sure to check out companies in these top 15 communities. You can also put your profile in 1stGig.com, a recruiting service exclusively focused on helping early career seekers find that all-important first job. It’s not another job board and you don’t need a resume. Just a few minutes will help you create a profile that could lead you toward the career of your dreams.

Whether it’s in one of these top 15 communities, or closer to your home, it’s a great way to make a career connection that could lead to your first job. So, give a nod to the Twin Cities and the other communities on the list and head over to 1stGig. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.