The Job Creation Machines Notices Biotech...

City's latest top job ranking recognizes biotech impact...

It's not just real estate that makes the Phoenix area one of the nation's hottest job markets.
This month's Forbes list of the Best U.S. Cities for Jobs also recognizes efforts in attracting technology firms -- biotech in particular -- in ranking the region No. 2 for the second straight year.

Top honors went to Raleigh, N.C., with the magazine noting its stable housing market and the presence of three major universities, which help in attracting an educated work force and technology firms. Detroit landed at the bottom of the pack among the nation's largest 100 metro areas.

Rounding out the top five were Jacksonville, and Orlando, Fla., and Washington, D.C., last year's No. 1. Tucson checked in at No. 20 on the list of Best U.S. Cities for Jobs, up from 41 last year. Las Vegas, a perennial winner on the job front landed at No. 8, down from third place.
To compile the rankings Forbes used five data points, weighted equally: unemployment rate, job growth, income growth, median household income and cost of living. The Phoenix area ranked 16th for unemployment, fifth in job growth, second in income growth, 34th in median household income and 64th in cost of living.

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