LinkedIn has released its inaugural report, “Cities on the Rise 2025: The 25 Fastest-Growing U.S. Metros for Jobs and New Talent.” Omaha made the list, coming in at #10.
LinkedIn analyzed its labor market data to identify 25 emerging metro areas where hiring is accelerating, job postings are surging and talent migration is reshaping local economies.
The top three cities were Grand Rapids, Mich.; Boise, Idaho; and Harrisburg, Pa. In addition to #10 Omaha, other metro areas in our region to make the list were #11 Kansas City; #15 Colorado Springs. Here’s the top 10:
1. Grand Rapids, Mich.
2. Boise, Idaho
3. Harrisburg, Pa.
4. Albany, N.Y.
5. Milwaukee
6. Portland, Maine
7. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
8. Hartford, Conn.
9. Nashville, Tenn.
10. Omaha
11. Kansas City
12. Wilmington, N.C.
13. Richmond, Va.
14. Indianapolis
15. Colorado Springs
16. Sacramento, Calif.
17. Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, S.C.
18. Austin, Texas
19. Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.
20. Portland, Ore.
21. Fayetteville, Ark.
22. Reno, Nev.
23. San Antonio
24. Fort Wayne, Ind.
25. Pensacola, Fla.
The biggest market to make the list is San Antonio with a metro population of nearly 2.8 million. Omaha’s 1 million population puts it in the middle of the pack. Some of the metros on the list – Myrtle Beach, Wilmington and Fort Wayne – have fewer than 400,000 people.
“Nearly half (46%) of U.S. workers now live far from where they grew up, with many citing career growth as a driving force,” the LinkedIn report stated. “But that doesn’t mean you have to move to a large city to find opportunity. In today’s economy, companies are expanding beyond big-city headquarters to tap into more affordable markets and deep talent pools — and workers are following.”
Here’s what the LinkedIn article had to say about Omaha:
Why Omaha is on the rise: High-flying growth in finance and insurance is boosting the local economy, while a rise in small business activity is opening more doors for local entrepreneurs.
Top industries hiring: Financial Services, Healthcare, Professional Services
Top employers: Nebraska Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Mutual of Omaha
Average income: $75,030
Average home listing price: $487,045
Local hotspots: In Omaha, “work hard, play hard” rings true — both universities and local bars are top destinations.
Omaha’s average income and home listing price compared favorably to other cities on the list. Omaha’s average income of $75,030 ranked #9. Fayetteville ($89,095), Reno ($81,360) and Austin ($80,470) were the three highest. The three with the lowest average incomes were Myrtle Beach ($54,210); Greenville-Spartanburg ($55,745) and Pensacola ($56,940).
Omaha’s average home listing price of $487,045 was one of the most affordable on the list. The lowest was Fort Wayne at just under $386,000. The most expensive housing market on the list was Reno with an average listing price of nearly $1.09 million.
As more companies expand outside of legacy/primary markets, these 25 cities are likely to see continued population growth, housing demand and competition for talent.
The entire report is available HERE.
