America’s youth has a world of opportunity at their feet, and that includes the job market. As society and technology progresses, there are so many interesting job opportunities popping up. And while there have been some minor ups and downs, 2016 has been a positive year for job growth, and as of April, unemployment was still down at 5%.
Now that summer is here, the question is where are the best places for our youth to find summer employment? Whether you want to relocate for just a couple months, or are looking to launch a career in greener pastures, here are six of the best cities to find summer employment, taken from a list created by WalletHub. Some of the factors WalletHub considered when determining the best cities for summer employment were availability of summer jobs, median income of part-time workers, youth job market outlook, and housing affordability.
1) Washington, D.C.
For students looking for government internships, this is the hot spot for summer employment. The federal government offers a multitude of internships based out of Washington, D.C. If you are looking to work in other industries such as health care or technology there are plenty of booming businesses looking to hire as well. This city’s projected annual job growth rate is 1.8%.
2) Scottsdale, AZ
This city has a comparatively young population, and a rather affordable cost of living, which is a huge plus for young people that are relocating. It also has one of the highest median incomes for part-time workers. In this part of the country, health care, technology and education are some of the industries where you can find the most opportunities for summer employment.
3) Orlando, FL
Tis’ the season for theme park business, and when people think of theme parks, Orlando is likely one of the first cities to come to mind. Walt Disney World is ever-growing, and there are many workers needed. Disney World hires for everything from dressing up as Mickey Mouse to waiting tables to doing graphic design. Universal Studios is also a huge summer employment hot spot, also located in Orlando. The annual job growth rate for this city is impressive, at 4.2%.
4) Irvine, CA
This city ranked high in internship listings, and Irvine’s population has seen considerable growth over recent decades (since 1990, they have had a 4% average population growth per year). As of 2015, 21,000 businesses had licenses in Irvine, many of which are Fortune 500 companies.
5) Minneapolis, MN
If you live in this city, you are very likely to find summer employment. Their unemployment rate is only 3%, and the city is home to businesses in all kinds of industries, from banking to software to medical device manufacturing. Also, many foreign countries have their U.S. headquarters in Minneapolis.
6) Atlanta, GA
Atlanta came in fourth in the WalletHub report for the highest availability of summer jobs per capita, making it one of the best cities for finding summer employment. What’s more, it was ranked the number one city for internships, probably because of the many Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in Atlanta.
Author: Jessica Cody
Jessica Cody, a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut, has a background in online marketing and public relations. Currently, she works at VHMNetwork LLC in the role of Marketing Analyst. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she studied Journalism and Political Science. She is also an avid runner with a passion for the outdoors.
