There are several factors beyond salary and the job itself that can make a city a good place for work, said Sneha Puri, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab.
That’s how the Boston metro area, which has strong career mobility and economic opportunity, ranked at the top of Indeed’s new ranking. The job-search platform’s Best Cities for Work list was based on an analysis of over 200 metros with more than 200,000 residents. The dozens of metrics used fell into six dimensions: job opportunity, compensation, job quality and security, career mobility and dynamism, work-life and flexibility, and economic opportunity.
Below are the top 10 metros, along with the category that stood out the most.
Puri said the Boston metro area ranked No. 1 because of its “all around balance,” ranking fairly well across categories. The metro’s highest rank was for career mobility, at No. 2, and its lowest was for job opportunity, at No. 14. Boston employs people in a variety of sectors, with many working in healthcare and professional and business services. Several major colleges and universities are in this metro, including Harvard University, which could be an opportunity for people looking to work in academia or advance their education while working.
Indeed said Boston’s robust hybrid work opportunities can help employers attract “elite talent,” and that remote and hybrid flexibility “allows workers to find a lifestyle that respects personal time without sacrificing access to high-paying, elite industries or requiring a rigid, traditional 9-to-5 desk presence.” Bostonians who enjoy happy hour with colleagues after work or want to grab a bite with friends shouldn’t have too much trouble finding somewhere to go. Indeed said the metro ranked No. 10 for restaurant density. Childcare and housing costs were among its weakest-performing metrics.
Puri said the Washington, DC, metro performed strongly in some pillars but less well in others. Puri said its high rank for career mobility and dynamism suggests job seekers shouldn’t have too much trouble switching jobs since there are a lot of different employers.
Still, the platform’s job postings tracker shows opportunities are below where they were in February 2020. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed the jobs with the highest share of employment in the metro area, relative to the national employment level, were political scientists, economists, and astronomers.
Indeed said the metro ranked No. 25 for average commute time, one of its weaker metrics, No. 2 for transportation cost, and No. 9 for walkability.
“You can easily live car-free, saving thousands of dollars annually on gas, parking, and maintenance,” Indeed said.
The Burlington, Vermont, metro area ranked No. 3, with its standout pillar being job opportunity. Indeed’s tracker shows job postings are above the February 2020 level. It could be a good location for healthcare professionals, as the University of Vermont Medical Center employs thousands of people, and for job seekers who want to work in person.
“While Burlington sits at #22 for remote/hybrid job shares, this actually highlights a unique benefit: a highly stable, locally rooted job market,” Indeed said. “Instead of transient ‘laptop class’ roles that can be outsourced anywhere, Burlington offers deeply embedded, stable careers.”
Transportation cost and access to career and skills training were among its weakest metrics.
Puri said a worker looking at the new list may find a different city that ranked further down is a better fit for them because of what they prioritize at their life stage.
“It’s important to remember that where you are in your career is really going to determine what would work best for you,” Puri said.
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