10 Markets with Most Job Growth Over Last 12 Months

Each month, the commercial real estate firm HFF reports on the current total number of jobs in each metropolitan statistical area (MSA), as well as the total number of jobs 12 months prior in order to determine the absolute and percent job growth over the past year.

The employment situation in a market is an indication of the demand for real estate. Essentially, people need jobs to pay for rent or to buy a home. The more people with jobs, the more potential customers (renters or home buyers) for real estate investors.

I recommend checking out HFF’s MSA Employment Report for the Year each month to see where your target investment market ranks. Here are the top 10 MSAs with the most job growth between March 2018 and March 2019:

10. Orlando

Livability

Total Jobs March 2018: 1,287,500

Total Jobs March 2019: 1,334,900

Total Jobs Added: 47,400

Percent Jobs Added: 3.68%

9. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana

Road Affair

Total Jobs March 2018: 6,140,800

Total Jobs March 2019: 6,192,700

Total Jobs Added: 51,900

Percent Jobs Added: 0.85%

8. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue

Total Jobs March 2018: 2,021,900

Total Jobs March 2019: 2,075,100

Total Jobs Added: 53,200

Percent Jobs Added: 2.63%

7. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach

Coastal Living

Total Jobs March 2018:2,680,200

Total Jobs March 2019: 2,735,700

Total Jobs Added: 55,500

Percent Jobs Added: 2.07%

6. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale

Time Out

Total Jobs March 2018: 2,101,200

Total Jobs March 2019: 2,159,700

Total Jobs Added: 58,500

Percent Jobs Added: 2.78%

5. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta

Total Jobs March 2018: 2,759,300

Total Jobs March 2019: 2,819,600

Total Jobs Added: 60,300

Percent Jobs Added: 2.19%

4. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont

Total Jobs March 2018: 2,416,900

Total Jobs March 2019: 2,478,900

Total Jobs Added: 62,000

Percent Jobs Added: 2.57%

3. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land

Total Jobs March 2018: 3,064,200

Total Jobs March 2019: 3,132,000

Total Jobs Added: 67,800

Percent Jobs Added: 2.21%

2. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington

Total Jobs March 2018: 3,639,500

Total Jobs March 2019: 3,750,200

Total Jobs Added: 110,700

Percent Jobs Added: 3.04%

1. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island

Total Jobs March 2018: 9,722,600

Total Jobs March 2019: 9,845,900

Total Jobs Added: 123,300

Percent Jobs Added: 1.27%