(NewsNation) — Finding the right job isn’t just about your resume — it’s also about your zip code.
Financial data firm SmartAsset recently ranked 348 U.S. cities based on how desirable their job markets are. The study used Census Bureau data from 2023 — the most recent available — and factored in everything from unemployment to median earnings, wage growth, remote work opportunities and more.
Bend, Oregon, ranked first overall thanks to its relatively low unemployment (3.1%) and strong wage growth, with the median income increasing 44% from 2020 to 2023. Known for its outdoor activities, the central Oregon city also boasts a good work life-balance thanks to a brief average commute of 16 minutes and a high share of remote workers (27%).
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Richmond, Virginia, secured second place and posted the highest earnings growth in the analysis, with a 50% increase in the average median income between 2020 and 2023…