May 4, 2026 - Business

Where new grads are finding jobs

Sami Sparber

Illustration of a pile of graduation caps — Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Fast-growing Southern metros offer the best job opportunities for college graduates, according to a new study.

The big picture: Birmingham, Alabama, and Tampa Bay, Florida, top the list, based on payroll processor ADP's ranking of 20-something hiring rates, wages and affordability.

The rest of the top 10 metros are:

San Jose, California
Columbus, Ohio
Raleigh, North Carolina
Tulsa, Oklahoma
San Francisco
Nashville, Tennessee
Charlotte, North Carolina
New York

At the bottom of the rankings are:

Salt Lake City
Riverside, California
San Diego
Portland, Oregon

What they're saying: "Even graduates who do land jobs in these metros face a tough financial tradeoff in the form of high cost of living," ADP's Sam Adieze wrote about the bottom four metros in the report.

Researchers analyzed 53 U.S. metro areas with populations of at least 1 million.

The bottom line: Entry-level hiring is rebounding this spring — but in a tough job market, young professionals' prospects may depend on the role, sector and location, the Wall Street Journal reports.

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Where new grads are finding jobs

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