Employment Mecca
Austin named one of the best cities for college graduates to find work
It's the economy, stupid. Austin and Houston rank as two of the 10 best cities for recent college graduates compiled by MSN Now, and are the only two Texas cities on the list.
In "The 10 Cities Every Recent Graduate Should Pick Up and Move To," Houston ranks No. 1, and Austin follows closely behind at No. 3. The top five cities also include Boston, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
The list looks at what cities in the United States are creating jobs as well as those that are most affordable on a fresh-out-of-college budget and have a vibrant population of twentysomethings. Job growth rates coupled with relatively low costs of living put Houston and Austin at the top of the pack.
With a 3.8 percent job growth rate, Houston is creating more jobs than any other major city in the United States. And the cost of living is relatively low with rent averaging $1,311. Austin’s job growth rate is at an impressive 3.1 percent, and the average rent is only $968, according to the survey.
On the other hand, the average salary of a recent college graduate is $38,000 in Houston and $32,000 in Austin, both of which are less than the $42,000 in Boston and Washington D.C.
Austin’s percentage of residents between 20-29 is a whopping 22.2 percent, whereas Houston has a lower percentage (17.8 percent) of twentysomethings than most cities on the list. An added bonus for new Austinites? The infographic touts that "Austin averages 300 days of sunshine a year."