Austin, Elkhart Top Rankings of Best U.S. Job Markets

Annual labor-market ratings judge metro areas on five attributes

Austin, Texas, has landed among the top large cities in the Journal’s annual job-market rankings for three years running. Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images

By Danny Dougherty

April 22, 2022 11:01 am ET

A Texas tech hub and a town that bills itself as the RV capital of the world are America’s hottest job markets, according to The Wall Street Journal’s annual rankings.

The Austin, Texas, metro area—which also features University of Texas, a state capitol and lots of live music—ranked as the best labor market in 2021, among regions with at least one million people. The Elkhart, Ind., area, where Keystone RV Co., Jayco Inc. and Newmar Corp., are located, ranked as the best job market among smaller regions.

The rankings are based on five attributes: job growth, unemployment rate, share of adults working or looking for work, change in the size of the labor force, and change in average weekly wages. Cities were scored by the highest average ranking among the five categories based on Moody’s Analytics analysis of Labor Department data.

Large cities rankings

Metropolitan statistical area	Overall rank	Unemployment rate rank	Labor force participation rank	Payroll change rank	Change in labor force size rank	Change in average weekly wages rank
Austin-Round Rock, TX	1	17	1	1	3	4
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN	2	8	4	11	14	10
Raleigh, NC	3	9	16	4	4	16
Salt Lake City, UT	4	1	2	2	24	24
Jacksonville, FL	5	10	19	15	1	19
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	6	7	20	20	9	21
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	7	38	3	16	6	18
Kansas City, MO-KS	8	11	5	19	7	43
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	9	26	9	12	17	22
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	10	13	45	9	2	23
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	11	31	10	14	11	27
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	12	28	11	25	28	3
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	12	27	15	29	13	11
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	14	36	28	6	12	14
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	15	4	12	31	20	39
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	16	18	18	23	18	35
Birmingham-Hoover, AL	17	2	46	17	23	29
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	18	33	47	27	8	5
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	19	22	17	44	37	1
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	20	42	38	21	15	8
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	21	32	43	8	10	36
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI	22	21	8	18	48	37
Oklahoma City, OK	23	3	24	40	16	52
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	24	6	6	43	51	30
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	25	12	25	26	35	42
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	26	55	33	39	5	9
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	27	30	7	37	50	20
Columbus, OH	27	19	13	32	42	38
Rochester, NY	29	34	42	7	19	45
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	30	53	40	3	22	31
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	30	16	23	24	38	48
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	30	39	26	13	21	50
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI	33	14	22	50	26	40
St. Louis, MO-IL	34	15	21	45	40	34
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	35	35	30	49	44	2
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	35	37	14	30	46	33
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	37	25	41	42	41	12
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	38	50	51	22	25	15
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY	39	40	49	10	27	47
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	40	48	29	46	36	17
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	41	52	37	41	34	13
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	42	23	52	5	52	46
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	42	44	50	38	39	7
Tulsa, OK	44	5	36	53	30	55
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	45	24	32	47	53	25
Cleveland-Elyria, OH	46	29	44	52	32	32
Richmond, VA	47	20	35	54	54	28
Pittsburgh, PA	48	45	39	33	49	26
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	49	46	31	28	45	49
Tucson, AZ	50	41	55	35	29	41
Fresno, CA	51	54	48	51	43	6
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	52	47	34	36	33	53
Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA	53	43	53	34	31	44
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	54	49	27	48	55	54
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	55	51	54	55	47	51

Methodology: The Wall Street Journal’s ranking is based on five attributes: average unemployment rate in 2021; labor-force participation rate in 2021; the change in the average monthly employment and labor-force levels in 2021 from a year earlier; and the change in average weekly wages, not adjusted for inflation, in the first half of 2021 from the first half of 2020, reflecting the latest available wage data. Areas were scored by the highest average ranking among the five categories. Rankings were split between areas with under one million people and over one million people.

Source: Moody’s Analytics analysis of Labor Department data

Small cities rankings

Metropolitan statistical area	Overall rank	Unemployment rate rank	Labor force participation rank	Payroll change rank	Change in labor force size rank	Change in average weekly wages rank
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	1	11	2	2	4	1
Provo-Orem, UT	2	2	14	9	44	46
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO	3	31	28	18	21	59
Reno, NV	4	147	30	17	3	6
Fond du Lac, WI	4	32	16	21	26	108
Wilmington, NC	6	103	106	22	30	7
Gainesville, GA	7	13	56	101	41	64
Fargo, ND-MN	8	35	3	48	86	105
Logan, UT-ID	9	1	25	31	68	170
Ogden-Clearfield, UT	10	5	42	19	92	141
Coeur d'Alene, ID	11	62	166	12	69	8
Springfield, MO	12	37	75	69	70	82
Columbus, IN	13	27	34	58	102	119
Panama City, FL	14	93	131	49	5	65
Boise City, ID	15	28	83	38	119	77
Walla Walla, WA	16	116	88	27	84	31
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL	17	66	253	24	2	5
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	18	26	21	128	76	104
Idaho Falls, ID	19	4	47	16	34	259
Savannah, GA	20	81	61	8	6	205
Columbia, MO	21	17	39	178	88	50
Pocatello, ID	22	20	89	7	14	244
Sheboygan, WI	23	21	23	57	53	248
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL	24	58	146	114	17	68
Sioux Falls, SD	25	6	1	122	57	218
Rapid City, SD	26	30	77	98	75	132
Eau Claire, WI	27	41	18	65	39	260
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL	28	22	270	6	51	76
Winchester, VA-WV	29	49	46	36	139	156
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	30	96	109	67	107	49
Madison, WI	31	15	5	197	72	143
Salem, OR	32	174	103	85	20	52
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	33	84	79	70	45	164
Boulder, CO	34	165	7	177	58	36
Jonesboro, AR	35	55	72	127	110	86
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL	36	88	313	34	7	15
Knoxville, TN	37	91	182	97	71	25
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	38	33	32	96	61	249
Bend-Redmond, OR	39	202	126	84	29	34
Appleton, WI	40	24	13	193	85	161
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	41	102	140	81	10	146
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	42	125	225	46	66	18
Wausau, WI	43	18	31	214	73	150
Valdosta, GA	44	76	193	77	48	93
Port St. Lucie, FL	45	128	269	33	8	54
Rochester, MN	46	42	6	107	258	94
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	47	77	11	71	127	225
Sherman-Denison, TX	48	161	155	75	54	72
Greenville, NC	49	151	108	23	9	233
Joplin, MO	50	53	154	80	95	145
Jackson, TN	51	141	95	141	112	44
Macon-Bibb County, GA	52	108	219	105	60	42
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC	52	78	319	20	37	80
Medford, OR	54	205	174	121	31	12
St. George, UT	54	14	210	4	19	296
Amarillo, TX	56	109	48	91	62	235
Gettysburg, PA	57	146	52	13	109	226
Kennewick-Richland, WA	58	190	62	40	137	118
Lincoln, NE	59	3	10	139	207	190
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	60	45	120	29	42	314
Portland-South Portland, ME	61	122	64	66	181	120
Huntsville, AL	62	9	99	53	94	300
Chattanooga, TN-GA	63	97	163	144	96	56
Spartanburg, SC	63	133	125	55	120	123
Colorado Springs, CO	65	252	65	41	27	172
Brunswick, GA	66	70	281	35	33	140
Jefferson City, MO	67	23	54	153	103	229
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	68	119	107	123	153	66
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	69	16	33	180	232	116
Gainesville, FL	69	79	121	118	12	247
Grand Island, NE	71	8	38	161	274	97
Tyler, TX	72	206	133	15	25	200
Olympia-Tumwater, WA	73	150	141	37	238	14
Ames, IA	73	12	20	303	225	20
Fort Wayne, IN	75	67	84	120	142	168
Wenatchee, WA	76	160	43	72	264	47
Champaign-Urbana, IL	77	139	71	146	180	51
Bismarck, ND	78	57	24	109	99	306
Punta Gorda, FL	79	127	325	111	23	11
Warner Robins, GA	80	61	192	86	35	228
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	81	170	175	28	214	16
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA	81	72	234	26	192	79
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL	83	154	322	82	15	33
Lewiston, ID-WA	83	25	167	76	122	216
Winston-Salem, NC	85	137	184	99	89	102
Tallahassee, FL	85	120	116	248	32	95
Fort Collins, CO	87	184	19	150	65	195
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	88	225	100	32	121	136
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	89	148	297	110	47	13
Green Bay, WI	89	38	29	173	106	269
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	91	98	221	64	13	222
Hattiesburg, MS	92	193	151	131	36	111
Lawrence, KS	93	65	74	259	113	117
Auburn-Opelika, AL	94	19	227	39	147	198
Decatur, AL	95	10	145	185	161	130
Missoula, MT	95	54	92	188	257	40
Ocala, FL	97	167	323	106	16	22
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	98	111	290	90	38	106
Burlington, NC	98	144	169	62	59	201
Prescott, AZ	100	181	309	10	52	84
Salinas, CA	101	306	27	124	104	78
Janesville-Beloit, WI	102	110	45	116	79	290
Rome, GA	102	64	243	119	77	137
Hinesville, GA	104	68	78	211	63	223
Mankato-North Mankato, MN	105	48	4	191	275	135
Topeka, KS	106	59	37	260	131	169
Ocean City, NJ	107	317	66	1	1	272
Napa, CA	108	246	94	143	154	29
Carson City, NV	109	180	148	47	18	275
Barnstable Town, MA	110	268	111	5	11	282
Waco, TX	111	186	142	44	49	257
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC	112	210	324	25	90	41
Yakima, WA	113	258	15	51	194	174
Staunton-Waynesboro, VA	114	69	156	63	204	207
Worcester, MA-CT	115	244	55	112	126	165
Abilene, TX	116	156	105	83	55	305
Dothan, AL	116	39	283	132	151	99
Glens Falls, NY	118	196	186	14	83	227
St. Joseph, MO-KS	119	46	60	276	173	153
York-Hanover, PA	120	218	58	61	189	184
Dubuque, IA	121	89	9	169	209	237
Morgantown, WV	122	106	80	157	50	322
Homosassa Springs, FL	123	231	327	100	24	37
Athens-Clarke County, GA	124	47	258	237	111	73
St. Cloud, MN	125	104	17	204	292	110
Bellingham, WA	126	199	196	50	261	23
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	126	60	110	175	146	238
Asheville, NC	128	101	201	138	134	159
Fort Smith, AR-OK	129	85	287	163	116	87
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC	130	92	208	137	129	175
Dalton, GA	130	83	312	151	124	71
Sebring, FL	130	241	326	104	22	48
Morristown, TN	133	134	279	134	138	58
Manchester-Nashua, NH	134	34	26	129	273	283
Duluth, MN-WI	134	112	114	89	252	178
Clarksville, TN-KY	136	171	204	59	105	211
Billings, MT	137	43	86	222	240	163
Cleveland, TN	138	126	183	278	149	19
Corvallis, OR	139	95	177	256	43	185
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA	140	222	93	42	130	280
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	141	56	22	293	248	152
California-Lexington Park, MD	142	140	50	102	188	295
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	143	234	96	200	184	63
Lexington-Fayette, KY	144	80	68	234	250	147
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	145	192	265	43	46	234
Lubbock, TX	145	162	70	149	81	318
Yuma, AZ	147	327	168	52	200	43
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	148	7	57	145	322	261
Grants Pass, OR	149	255	315	142	28	60
Lawton, OK	150	63	191	239	143	167
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	151	217	202	78	282	26
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	152	166	91	189	190	177
Columbia, SC	152	105	139	246	168	155
Eugene, OR	154	215	248	267	67	21
Lancaster, PA	155	187	53	155	231	196
Salisbury, MD-DE	156	243	244	11	64	262
Canton-Massillon, OH	157	185	135	194	263	62
Redding, CA	157	279	317	136	97	10
New Bern, NC	157	130	291	190	80	148
Akron, OH	160	183	127	198	267	70
Santa Rosa, CA	160	208	152	263	219	3
Springfield, OH	160	194	194	94	237	126
Albany, OR	160	221	220	140	40	224
Sumter, SC	164	172	289	168	164	55
Urban Honolulu, HI	165	288	128	152	108	173
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	165	173	102	181	262	131
Harrisonburg, VA	167	74	189	87	229	273
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	168	216	59	115	198	268
Bloomington, IN	169	44	282	290	150	92
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	170	276	69	56	195	264
Roanoke, VA	170	99	172	174	293	122
Stockton-Lodi, CA	172	311	211	113	196	30
Lima, OH	173	214	113	79	215	243
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA	174	136	306	203	212	9
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS	175	249	267	45	56	250
Cumberland, MD-WV	176	247	235	92	157	138
Tuscaloosa, AL	177	75	200	224	276	96
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	178	115	138	236	203	182
Ann Arbor, MI	179	131	90	249	277	128
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	180	50	293	206	230	100
Florence, SC	181	143	180	250	174	134
Grand Forks, ND-MN	182	73	36	271	246	256
Modesto, CA	183	308	216	164	187	17
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	184	200	150	170	272	101
Cheyenne, WY	185	113	49	251	205	278
Jackson, MS	186	198	149	233	82	239
Flagstaff, AZ	187	293	98	60	145	307
Trenton, NJ	188	239	12	184	224	246
Rocky Mount, NC	189	274	288	186	114	45
Killeen-Temple, TX	190	250	255	156	100	149
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	191	87	240	217	115	253
Jacksonville, NC	191	158	305	165	91	193
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI	193	235	207	103	286	83
Fairbanks, AK	194	179	44	273	133	287
Lebanon, PA	195	233	81	195	241	171
Lewiston-Auburn, ME	196	176	115	238	227	166
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	197	251	132	210	197	133
Kingston, NY	197	195	162	196	213	157
Baton Rouge, LA	199	229	51	227	118	301
Greensboro-High Point, NC	200	188	230	220	175	114
College Station-Bryan, TX	200	153	119	258	156	241
Springfield, MA	202	275	134	126	93	303
Evansville, IN-KY	202	71	117	308	249	186
Iowa City, IA	202	51	40	319	302	219
Racine, WI	205	135	87	280	159	271
Albuquerque, NM	206	290	181	158	117	187
Johnson City, TN	207	129	299	266	172	69
Ithaca, NY	207	123	262	296	222	32
Manhattan, KS	209	40	123	325	269	179
Carbondale-Marion, IL	210	189	173	208	247	121
El Paso, TX	211	277	213	176	160	113
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL	212	94	316	172	235	124
Greeley, CO	213	254	35	252	78	325
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	214	321	218	95	101	210
Charlottesville, VA	215	82	171	295	318	89
Merced, CA	216	323	223	125	128	158
Springfield, IL	217	197	104	202	266	189
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	218	152	97	281	216	213
Grand Junction, CO	219	267	144	187	98	265
Montgomery, AL	220	114	161	269	270	154
Utica-Rome, NY	221	242	238	201	206	88
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	222	207	130	209	287	144
Bowling Green, KY	223	107	233	133	221	284
New Haven-Milford, CT	224	299	82	93	317	188
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA	225	142	158	309	319	53
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	226	86	85	305	285	221
Longview, WA	226	230	300	130	294	28
Anchorage, AK	228	253	41	245	136	315
Pittsfield, MA	229	269	188	108	171	263
Columbus, GA-AL	230	117	284	284	193	129
Bangor, ME	231	168	195	162	210	274
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	232	182	246	147	223	212
Midland, MI	232	169	209	68	251	313
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ	234	281	321	30	152	230
Albany, GA	235	163	256	311	211	74
Las Cruces, NM	236	296	232	240	140	112
Bay City, MI	236	260	231	192	313	24
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	238	292	164	182	326	61
Goldsboro, NC	239	157	273	315	158	125
Kankakee, IL	240	261	101	288	305	75
Syracuse, NY	241	220	205	264	259	85
Dayton, OH	242	177	157	235	283	183
Williamsport, PA	242	285	112	167	226	245
Great Falls, MT	244	52	197	275	297	216
Monroe, MI	245	257	165	218	303	98
Wichita, KS	246	164	63	277	220	319
Chico, CA	247	282	311	232	186	38
Hammond, LA	248	295	276	148	135	199
Mobile, AL	249	155	224	243	290	142
Toledo, OH	250	219	124	225	307	181
Saginaw, MI	251	291	275	88	288	115
Yuba City, CA	252	313	217	287	202	39
Alexandria, LA	252	149	245	268	144	252
Wichita Falls, TX	254	211	222	226	132	270
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA	255	201	122	207	268	266
Decatur, IL	256	298	228	257	284	2
Pueblo, CO	257	309	214	274	74	203
Elmira, NY	258	240	280	265	256	35
Bloomington, IL	259	138	143	313	309	176
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	260	319	203	289	243	27
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton, PA	261	304	147	215	279	139
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	262	316	298	229	155	91
Battle Creek, MI	263	278	237	205	314	57
Muncie, IN	264	100	257	255	179	308
Fayetteville, NC	265	270	296	253	178	103
Cedar Rapids, IA	265	132	67	301	296	304
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	267	228	304	135	125	309
Madera, CA	268	314	266	261	163	109
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA	269	204	226	317	281	90
Visalia-Porterville, CA	270	326	187	286	217	107
Texarkana, TX-AR	270	223	252	231	166	251
Mansfield, OH	270	209	259	166	280	209
Danville, IL	273	256	241	179	245	208
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI	274	324	137	73	311	285
Hot Springs, AR	275	175	318	159	182	297
Flint, MI	276	301	278	74	300	180
San Angelo, TX	277	191	206	270	177	294
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	278	320	268	117	123	312
Jackson, MI	279	245	198	160	308	231
Beckley, WV	279	213	303	199	141	286
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	281	259	247	291	185	162
Monroe, LA	282	226	179	282	170	288
Pine Bluff, AR	283	248	294	244	162	204
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY	284	145	274	279	298	160
Altoona, PA	285	263	170	247	291	191
Kokomo, IN	285	265	277	306	310	4
Charleston, WV	287	203	260	300	208	192
East Stroudsburg, PA	288	305	229	54	271	310
Midland, TX	289	264	8	321	289	291
Norwich-New London, CT	290	307	153	154	328	236
Lake Charles, LA	291	272	136	326	320	127
El Centro, CA	292	328	302	171	324	67
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	293	178	307	213	199	298
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ	293	312	160	212	244	267
Dover, DE	295	273	261	183	191	289
Reading, PA	296	284	118	297	306	194
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	297	325	254	3	299	320
The Villages, FL	298	224	328	310	87	255
Binghamton, NY	299	227	286	230	233	232
Corpus Christi, TX	300	303	242	221	167	277
Terre Haute, IN	300	121	295	314	278	202
Santa Fe, NM	300	289	264	322	254	81
Laredo, TX	303	283	212	262	201	254
Casper, WY	304	262	73	298	255	326
Longview, TX	305	280	236	228	169	302
Wheeling, WV-OH	305	232	249	219	234	281
Lynchburg, VA	307	124	285	285	312	214
Owensboro, KY	308	118	239	302	295	276
Bakersfield, CA	309	322	176	283	242	220
Lafayette, LA	310	237	250	294	165	317
Peoria, IL	310	236	185	242	301	299
Houma-Thibodaux, LA	312	238	271	292	148	321
Erie, PA	313	300	199	223	265	311
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV	313	212	292	318	236	240
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA	315	294	215	254	218	323
Victoria, TX	316	286	251	304	228	242
Rockford, IL	317	310	159	307	321	215
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	318	287	190	320	253	279
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH	319	266	308	241	239	293
Farmington, NM	320	315	310	312	260	151
Gadsden, AL	320	90	320	299	315	324
State College, PA	322	159	272	323	304	292
Muskegon, MI	323	302	263	216	323	258
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA	324	271	301	272	316	206
Odessa, TX	325	318	76	327	327	327
Johnstown, PA	326	297	314	324	325	316