Best Job Markets For Workers With A Bachelor’s Degree: Oklahoma City, Louisville and Kansas City

More education means better employment opportunities, but the positive benefits range dramatically across US metros.

The lowest unemployment rates for bachelors-educated workers are in Oklahoma City (1.9%), Louisville (2.0%) and Kansas City (2.5%).  The highest unemployment rates are found in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Riverside.  Of the “Worst 10” list, California metros comprise 6 out of 10 metros where the highest unemployment rates are found for Bachelor’s educated workers.

Most metros saw their unemployment rate decrease from 2009-2013 for individuals aged 25-64 with a bachelor’s degree. Detroit had the most improved unemployment rate from 2009-2013, where the bachelor’s graduate unemployment rate there fell by 2.6 percentage points. Louisville, Grand Rapids, and Cleveland also saw their college graduate unemployment rate decrease.

From 2009-2013, only 7 of 52 metros saw their job market worsen for college graduates, led by Hartford, Memphis and San Diego. Some of this effect can be due to labor returning to the labor force (looking for work) after dropping out of the job market during the recession.

Download the complete dataset for all metros and all years back to 2009.