By Mike Bodeen · 29 January 2018
Chandler and Scottsdale, #1 and #2! Peoria and Gilbert Right Behind!
Anytime discussion turns to the future of Arizona’s quality of life, a myriad of considerations are in play. Education plays a large part of this prognostication. In higher education, for example, Arizona is excelling. In K-12, not so well, though there now seems to be a more determined effort between government and the private sector to substantially improve this.
Of huge importance for an area is its economic vitality, AKA jobs. Jobs, especially higher paying jobs, help contribute to the financial health of our communities. In our modern history up until the real estate crash, Arizona growth was tied to the local home construction industry, and everything associated with that. This included Builders, Realtors, and lenders who survived those dire times
The national unemployment rate has fallen to a 17-year low of 4.1 percent while hiring is up. This even began prior to the new tax law going into effect, which could very well spike hiring, and further reduce unemployment as strong competition for jobs causes wages to rise. But as in real estate, the big question is how does this impact our local communities where we live?
Well, the times, they are a changin!
According to WalletHub, “College graduates, especially, will see a strong boost in their job prospects. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers plan to hire 4 percent more members from the Class of 2018 than from the previous graduating cohort.”
Ok, so that’s nice, but what about the Phoenix-Scottsdale Metro area? Well, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 26 key indicators of job-market strength. They range from job opportunities to employment growth to monthly average starting salary.
Amazingly, Chandler and Scottsdale are ranked #1 and #2 nationally regarding the Best Place to find a job. Peoria and Gilbert ranked 4th and 5th, while San Francisco sandwiched between at #3. Tempe, AZ, was ranked #20 nationally as well.
Best Places to Find a Job in the U.S.
Overall Rank / Total Score
1. Chandler, AZ 67.66
2. Scottsdale, AZ 66.29
3. San Francisco, CA 66.06
4. Peoria, AZ 65.86
5. Gilbert, AZ 65.35
See Full Study: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-jobs/2173/#main-findings
What’s the big takeaway here? The Phoenix Metro communities have been doing all the right things to position us for growth. As those dividends pay off, incomes will rise, and this time, not on the backs of our home building industry. A nice change.