Only Maryland community in the top 50
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Today, Columbia was named Best City for Jobs United States for 2022 by WalletHub, the personal finance outlet. WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions, job market and socioeconomics. Columbia was named the Second Best City for Jobs in 2021.
Howard County continues to be an ideal location for many business owners, companies and entrepreneurs – people want to live, work, and stay here. Despite the pandemic, we’ve seen many indicators that in the long-term we will continue to be the economic engine in Central Maryland. Howard County has proven repeatedly – we are resilient. This recognition is a huge testament to the hard work of our business community to be at the forefront of emerging markets, and to our commitment to providing a strong quality of life for all our residents.
To determine the strongest local job markets WalletHub compared cities across 32 key metrics. The data set ranges from job opportunities to employment growth to monthly average starting salary. Columbia also ranked first in median annual income, which is adjusted for cost of living.
“We are proud to see that Howard County continues to be recognized for what we have known for a long time - there is a diverse talent base here which attracts a variety of industries that provide opportunities for our community,” said Howard County Economic Development Authority CEO Larry Twele. “The ecosystem here has what businesses and entrepreneurs alike can find the resources they need to thrive.”
“This recognition reflects the strength of our local business community, especially considering the uncertainty and hardships sustained the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Howard County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Leonardo McClarty. “We have proven we are able to weather the storm, and we are excited to see the prosperity of our hard work in the years to come.”
"Columbia's first-place recognition comes as little surprise", said Amanda Hof, Executive Director for Visit Howard County. "We are extremely grateful for Executive Ball's focus on the growth and development of our hospitality community businesses. This support goes a long way in making Howard County a premier leisure and business travel destination as well as a top place to work, play, and stay".