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Top 10 U.S. cities for job growth

By Jason McCormick

August 29, 2012 / 10:59 AM EDT / CBS News

Which American cities have the highest job-creation rates? The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, analyzing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ranked major metropolitan areas, each with a workforce of at least 1 million, from July 2011 to July 2012. Check out which job-creating cities make up the top 10.

10. Boston

Boston (Boston-Cambridge-Quincy) is America's 10th best city for job growth, according to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Employment in the area grew at an annual rate of 2.16 percent, or 52,800 new jobs, from July 2011 to July 2012, to a total of 2,500,300 non-farm jobs.

9. Portland, Ore.

Portland, Ore. is America's ninth best city for job growth, according to research professor Lee McPheters of Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. — iStockphoto

Portland, Ore. (Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton), is America's ninth best city for job growth, according to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Employment grew at an annual rate of 2.19 percent, or 21,500 new jobs, from July 2011 to July 2012, to a total of 1,003,000 non-farm jobs.

8. Riverside, Calif.

Riverside, Calif. is America's eighth best city for job growth, according to research professor Lee McPheters of Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business — Wikimedia Commons

Riverside, Calif. (Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario), is America's eighth best city for job growth, according to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Employment in the area grew at an annual rate of 2.27 percent, or 25,100 new jobs, from July 2011 to July 2012, to a total of 1,131,800 non-farm jobs.

7. Cincinnati

Cincinnati (Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor) is America's seventh best city for job growth, according to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Employment grew at an annual rate of 2.82 percent, or 27,900 new jobs, from July 2011 to July 2012, to a total of 1,017,500 non-farm jobs.

6. San Diego

downtown San Diego — AP Photo/Gregory Bull

San Diego (San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos) is America's sixth best city for job growth, according to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Employment in the area grew at an annual rate of 2.88 percent, or 35,100 new jobs, from July 2011 to July 2012, to a total of 1,254,700 non-farm jobs.

5. Phoenix

Phoenix (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) is America's fifth best city for job growth, according to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Employment in the area grew at an annual rate of 2.91 percent, or 48,500 new jobs, from July 2011 to July 2012, to a total of 1,713,400 non-farm positions.

4. Seattle

Seattle (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue) is America's fourth best city for job growth, according to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Employment in the area grew at an annual rate of 2.92 percent, or 49,000 new jobs, from July 2011 to July 2012, to a total of 1,724,600 non-farm jobs.

3. Denver

Denver (Denver-Aurora) is America's third best city for job growth, according to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Employment in the area grew at an annual rate of 3.01 percent, or 36,600 new jobs, from July 2011 to July 2012, to a total of 1,253,800 non-farm jobs.

2. Houston

Houston (Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land) is America's second best city for job growth, according to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Employment in the area grew at annual rate of 3.23 percent, or 83,700 new jobs, from July 2011 to July 2012, to a total of 2,676,400 non-farm jobs.

1. San Francisco

San Francisco, Calif. — James Martin/CNET

San Francisco (San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont) is America's best city for job growth, according to Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business. Employment in the area grew at an annual rate of 3.46 percent, or 64,800 new jobs, from July 2011 to July 2012, to a total of 1,935,400 non-farm jobs.

Jason McCormick

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