20-somethings have the best job prospects in Birmingham, WSJ says

With graduation season in full swing, the job market is seeing an influx of new talent eager to secure their first professional roles in the cities they will soon call home.

According to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, Birmingham is the best place in the U.S. for those 20-somethings who just earned their college degree.

Why is Birmingham the best spot to launch a career?

Birmingham’s strong standing is due to a number of factors, according to Trevor Sutton, vice president of economic development at the Birmingham Business Alliance:

• A significant bioscience sector anchored by UAB
• Large employers in the automotive + advanced materials industries
• Demand for engineers at companies like the Southern Company (Alabama Power) and Quanta Power Solutions due to those advanced materials industries

“The region’s supportive business climate, which offers favorable tax incentives, a skilled workforce and a growing infrastructure provides a great opportunity for businesses to start, grow and thrive. In turn, this creates countless job opportunities across multiple industries. Over the past five years, 35 headquarters have announced 3,000 jobs and $240M in capital investment.”

Birmingham Business Alliance

To calculate the results for the rankings, the WSJ:

• Compiled data from an ADP study that analyzed more than 400,000 U.S. 20-somethings nationwide
• Weighted hiring rates for jobs that typically require a degree against affordability-adjusted pay in each location

Birmingham landed in the 85th percentile for wages, the 96th for affordability and the 88th for hiring.

The top 15 metro areas for 20-something college grads

To folks who aren’t from the South, Birmingham topping the list might come as a surprise.

The region’s metro areas become more attractive, both to business owners and high-earners, due to:

• Lower costs of living
• Better job opportunities
• More tax- and business-friendly environments
• Temperate weather

The South dominated the list, with eight of the top 15 cities for best hiring markets for graduates:

1. Birmingham
2. Tampa, Florida
3. San Jose, California
4. Columbus, Ohio
5. Raleigh, North Carolina
6. Tulsa, Oklahoma
7. San Francisco
8. Nashville, Tennessee
9. Charlotte, North Carolina
10. New York City
11. Denver
12. Fresno, California
13. Austin, Texas
14. Baltimore
15. Providence, Rhode Island

Bham employers dominate as some of the best places to work

Earlier this year, Forbes released its annual list of the best companies to work. In Birmingham, four large employers (5,000+ employees) made the list, and four mid-size employers (1,000 to 5,000 employees) were recognized.

The lists are decided by survey responses of more than 217,000 employees working at U.S. companies with more than 1,000 employees.

Birmingham’s best large employers, according to Forbes, are:

• UAB
• Regions
• Vulcan Materials
• Hibbett Sports

The best mid-size employers in Birmingham are:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
• American Cast Iron Pipe
• Brasfield & Gorrie
• Altec

These companies are driving much of the 20-something hiring trends in Birmingham, leading to an influx of young people moving to the Magic City and the surrounding areas.

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