14 Cities People Are Moving to for Jobs and Opportunities

Moving to a new city, especially a bigger and more populous city, may mean opening up to new job opportunities. An increasingly connected world has meant that many people are willing to upend their lives for an employment opportunity in a new city. Hundreds of thousands of people move to new cities annually seeking higher wages, better long-term job prospects, and opportunity.
If you are looking for new opportunities, here are the fourteen North American cities people are moving to for job prospects:

1. Raleigh, North Carolina

One of the cities that people are moving to is Raleigh, North Carolina. The city is consistently ranked as one of the best cities in the US to live and work. In terms of employment, there are a lot of job opportunities here with career growth built-in. Raleigh is underrated and not as flashy as other hubs but still ranks high on the list of cities to move to for work.

2. Austin, Texas

Austin is a city with a unique mix of newcomers and families who have been living there for decades. Alongside opportunities in the arts and music scene here, the city has a growing corporate culture, offers an array of jobs, and has recently had a major influx of new businesses coming into Austin.

3. Toronto, Ontario

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and arguably its most multicultural. This metropolitan city is a hub of business, development, corporate job opportunities, entrepreneurs, and startups. Toronto is, by far, Canada’s most popular city among Americans and foreign individuals seeking business opportunities. Toronto is the ideal city for corporate relocation services, and you will enjoy many lucrative job prospects upon your arrival in the GTA.

4. Vancouver, British Columbia

Another beautiful Canadian city, Vancouver sits just 50 kilometres north of the US border. For ambitious, educated job-seekers, this is a very popular city with strong economic activity in technology, film, natural resources, and small business.

5. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh boasts a mix of big city amenities with a small-town feel. Job-wise, Pittsburgh has a diverse economy with major players in the healthcare, construction, nuclear engineering, and financial fields. For those looking to establish residence and find employment, Pittsburgh has thousands of job openings for willing workers.

6. San Jose, California

San Jose, California might not jump off the page as a city to move to for work but the city’s perhaps better recognized as the beating heart of Silicon Valley. Although it’s one of the most expensive places to live in the US, promises of high wages in the tech economy, major opportunities, and wealth is enough to attract thousands of newcomers every year.

7. Montreal, Quebec

Montreal is an international city, seemingly open to all cultures, and an area built on education, culture, and the French language. It is also a major North American hub of job opportunities in aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and visual effects. A unique bag of open positions attract thousands of hopefuls every year looking to start a new life and find a better job.

8. Seattle, Washington

Many people are moving to the city of Seattle, which is a good place to find work. Among North America’s biggest cities, Seattle’s economic growth is top-rated. Seattle’s employment opportunities range from tech to healthcare, shipping, fishing, and the service industry.

9. Memphis, Tennessee

For job seekers, Memphis is a great city to consider. Due to its music culture and the history of Memphis, there is a lot of appreciation for local and small businesses. A lot of homegrown employment is available here, with open positions by the thousands featured regularly on job search websites.

10. Ottawa, Ontario

The home to so much of Canada’s political class and history, employment in Ottawa is based around sectors including government, technology, and small business. Compared to Toronto, Ottawa is a much less expensive place to live. The city is one that shouldn’t be discounted in conversations about where to move to in Canada for jobs.

11. Indianapolis, Indiana

A few decades ago, no one would have put Indianapolis on a list of cities people move to for jobs. Though still under-the-radar, Indianapolis has grown quite a bit. It’s a splendid city to call home, has a lively downtown that’s very walkable, and the job prospects here are strong.

Comparatively, living expenses aren’t very high which makes it particularly advantageous for people with high-paying positions to maximize the value of their paycheck.

12. Calgary, Alberta

Alberta’s sunniest city, Calgary is home to jobs in mining, construction, engineering, and the corporate world. Calgary also has a mix of universities, multiculturalism, and is one of the most livable cities in the world.

The average price to own a home and/or rent is below average, promising most earners the chance to save more of their paycheck compared to Toronto, Vancouver, and other Canadian cities.

13. Atlanta, Georgia

Featuring a booming economy and a stable job market, the Georgia city of Atlanta is a viable region to consider a move to. There’s lots of employment here from some of America’s largest corporations down to small business. Atlanta is also a very affordable place to live, with cost of living below average.

14. San Francisco, California

It is not difficult to find a job in San Francisco, with opportunities available to diverse levels of education and experience. Top companies are always looking for the best talent, something which is promising to those in the computer science or tech fields. That said, San Francisco’s competitiveness can be a turn-off to those who are looking for a more relaxed job market.