Best Mid-Sized Cities For Jobs

The U.S. in the past few years has suffered a bit in terms of job growth. But if 2011 is anything to go by, we may have turned the corner. 2011 was a fairly decent year in terms of job growth especially in metropolitan areas across the country. If a move is in your plans, and if you are someone looking to find a decent place to live where jobs are in abundance, then this may interest you. The research experts at Forbes have painstakingly put together the figures and come up with the best mid-sized cities in the U.S. to move to for jobs. And these are their top five...

Number 5 - Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Arkansas-Missouri

This North-West Arkansas metropolitan area has a population of about 350,000(2000) and is home to two of the kingpins in their respective industries: Walmart(retail) and Tyson Foods(meat processing). In the decade of 1990 to 2000, this area was the sixth fastest growing in the U.S.

Number 4 - McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas

This metro in Texas jumped two spots from last year to make the top 5. With a population approaching 800,000, it is another fast-growing region.

Number 3 - Anchorage, Alaska

This northern-most major city in the U.S. has a healthy economy with a host of important industries including transportation, the military, municipal, state and federal government, tourism, and corporate headquarters (including regional headquarters for multinational corporations.

Number 2 - Corpus Christi, Texas

This southern Texas city is home to the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, and also the Port of Corpus Christi, the 5th largest port in the U.S.

Number 1 - El Paso, Texas

Unsurprisingly, it's another city in Texas. El Paso is ranked top in the mid-sized city category, but is also the Number 3 city overall for jobs. El Paso, the sixth largest city in Texas, and also the 19th largest in the country, climbed 22 spots from last year's list. El Paso is the Operational Headquarters of a Nasdaq Company, Helen of Troy Limited, which manufactures many household health care products under many labels including OXO, Dr. Scholl's, Vidal Sassoon, Sunbeam, et.

So the State of Texas just about cleaned up in all three size categories. There is Austin, leading a quartet of Texan cities in the top five of The Big City Category. And then, among the top 10 in the Small City Category, Texas claimed three of the spots. And here in the mid-sized category, besides El Paso, the Number 1, Corpus Christi was Number 2 and McAllen-Edinburgh-Mission Number 4.

California, on the other hand, did not fair as well, and you would have to go outside the top 150 places to find a Californian city. It is perhaps a sign of the times that despite all the best greening efforts of the State, it is still environmentally-unfriendly fossil fuel technology that is generating all the jobs. And Texas rules on this front, at least for the present.

While your thoughts are on the best cities to move to for jobs, and best small cities in particular, why not compare this list with CNN Money's Best Small Places To Move To?

In addition, find out a little about yourself, and see what place suits you since we all have different criteria for judging the best place to live in. Take a look at How to Find the Best Place to Move To depending on your wants and needs.