Adecco Staffing US Identifies the Best Cities to Find a Job in 2012

MELVILLE, N.Y., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the U.S. economy continues to show signs of improvement and companies feel more confident investing in talent; demand for skilled workers is again on the rise. With the national unemployment rate down to 8.1% and continuous monthly job gains, Adecco Staffing US compiled a list of the 10 best cities to find work in the U.S., with Washington, DC and Arlington/Alexandria, VA taking the top spot on this year's list.

Adecco developed the list based on internal data and feedback from Adecco Staffing's regional branch network across the U.S. The list factors in the local unemployment rate, job opportunities based on volume of job openings over the past six months, and a general assessment of the overall economic environment in each market.

Washington, DC and Arlington/Alexandria, VA were cited as a top choice for employment in 2012 for a number of reasons, one of which is their unemployment rate of 5.5 percent— well below the national average.  And though the government sector provides a wealth of employment opportunities, there are also jobs in a number of other areas. In fact, the top industries hiring include pharmaceutical, technology, and nonprofit.  The jobs most in demand in the DC metro area are in marketing, executive administration, and accounting and finance.

A diverse economy with plenty of opportunities, even in a weakened financial climate, helped Austin, Texas earn one of the top spots on the list. Top industries hiring in Austin include technology and manufacturing, but leisure and hospitality, education and health services, professional and business services, and financial activities are also fast growing sectors. Among the most in-demand skills are customer service, call center, pharmaceutical customer support, assembly, and warehouse.  The city's unemployment rate of 6.0 percent is also well below the national average, making it a desirable place to look for work.

Ithaca, NY may seem like an unlikely choice, but its status as one of the few expanding economies in New York, along with an unemployment rate of 5.9 percent, earned it a spot on this year's list. Home to Cornell University, the city's industries offering the most job opportunities include education, manufacturing, technology, and tourism. The jobs most in demand are engineers, quality control/quality assurance professionals, construction managers, technical writers, and technicians.

The complete list of best U.S. cities to find a job is below:

1. Washington, DC and Arlington/Alexandria, VA
2. Austin, TX
3. Ithaca, NY
4. Boston, MA
5. Portland, ME
6. Dallas, TX
7. Nashville, TN
8. Columbus, OH
9. Baltimore, MD
10. Pittsburgh, PA

"These cities represent places with some of the best job opportunities in the country right now," said Janette Marx, senior vice president of Adecco Staffing US. "The variety of industries hiring and skills in demand show that there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the job climate right now—and it's something we hope will only get better."

About Adecco Staffing US
Adecco Staffing US is the nation's leading provider of recruitment and workforce solutions. We are the pre-eminent workforce management partner for Fortune 500 companies and career advisement expert for American workers, serving all of the key industries and professions that drive our economy forward. Adecco has over 900 career centers and, on any given day, connects 70,000 talented workers to the best job opportunities across the country, making us one of America's largest employers. Please visit us at adeccousa.com.

About Adecco Group North America:
Every day we provide our clients with the talent they need, and help solve the business challenges they face today – and will encounter tomorrow. Our clients rely on us for a wide range of workforce solutions including:

• Contingent staffing and direct hire recruitment for large enterprise organizations across all skill sets
• Workforce solutions and consulting including Managed Services Programs (MSP) & Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)
• Career transition and leadership consulting
• Specialty staffing, project solutions and consulting services

About the Adecco Group:
The Adecco Group, based in Zurich, Switzerland, is the world's leading provider of HR solutions. With more than 33,000 FTE employees and a network of over 5,500 branches, in over 60 countries and territories around the world, Adecco Group offers a wide variety of services, connecting around 700,000 associates with more than 100,000 clients every day. The services offered fall into the broad categories of temporary staffing, permanent placement, career transition and talent development, as well as outsourcing and consulting. The Adecco Group is a Fortune Global 500 company.

Adecco S.A. is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN).

SOURCE Adecco Staffing US