Grand Rapids ranks as No. 3 ‘mid-size’ market in US for jobs

Grand Rapids ranks as No. 3 ‘mid-size’ market in US for jobs

ManpowerGroup is a workforce services company. Photo via fb.com

Grand Rapids is one of the best job markets of its size in the country.

The Grand Rapids-Wyoming market ranks third in the ranking of “Best Mid-size Cities for Jobs” posted last month by Forbes.

The local market is moving up Forbes’ annual ranking, placing eighth in 2013 and tenth in 2012.

The Grand Rapids market had 410,200 jobs in 2013 and saw job growth of 9.7 percent over the last five years.

Top markets

Boulder, Colo., which ranks first, had 175,000 jobs in 2013 and saw job growth of 7 percent over the last five years.

Provo-Orem, Utah, which ranks third, had 209,300 jobs in 2013 and saw job growth of 12.5 percent over the last five years.

Methodology

Forbes said it ranked 398 metros based on employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from November 2002 through January 2014.

The mid-size market ranking is based on 92 metros that each have employment rolls between 150,000 and 450,000.

The ranking factors recent growth trends, mid-term growth, long-term growth and a market's momentum.

“Best Mid-size Cities for Jobs”

1.   Boulder, Colo.
2.   Provo-Orem, Utah
3.   Grand Rapids-Wyoming
4.   Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.
5.   Lafayette, La.
6.   Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.
7.   Des Moines-West Moines, Iowa
8.   Boise City-Nampa, Idaho
9.   McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
10. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark., Mo.

Source: Forbes, 2014