By Charisse Jones
Money
LINKEDIN NAMES BEST CITIES FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES TO FIND JOBS
As the class of 2021 prepares to enter a rebounding job market, the first thought might be to head to a big coastal city like Los Angeles or New York.
But the odds may be just as good farther off the beaten path in smaller cities of states such as Texas, Vermont or Florida.
Starting off in smaller regions allows recent graduates to get experience while maintaining a lower cost of living especially for those with student loans, says Dan Roth, editor in chief of LinkedIn.
Advantages:
"The smaller, fast-growing regions could have more limited employment options overall depending on your industry," Roth says.
Drawbacks:
Here are 10 of the fastest-growing areas and the hottest sectors in those cities, according to research by LinkedIn given exclusively to USA TODAY.
Software and IT services, health care, transportation and logistics.
Hottest sectors:
Greater Watertown-Fort Drum area, New York
Hottest sectors:
Health care, retail, transportation and logistics.
San Angelo area, Texas
Hottest sectors:
Finance, software and IT services, health care.
Greater Tampa Bay area, Florida
Hottest sectors:
Health care, public administration, transportation and logistics.
Greater Burlington area, Vermont
Hottest sectors:
Transportation and logistics, health care, retail.
Greater Wheeling area, West Virgina
Hottest sectors:
Manufacturing, retail, transportation and logistics.
Waco area, Texas
Hottest sectors:
Consumer goods, retail, health care.
North Port Sarasota area, Florida
Hottest sectors:
Retail, software and IT services, health care.
Austin metropolitan area, Texas
Hottest sectors:
Recreation and travel, health care, consumer goods.
