The world’s best cities to work in
lovemoney staff
11 August 2017
The planet's most economically vibrant metropolises in 2017
Want to know which cities are tops for career-minded professionals? Recently updated for 2017, the Schroders Global Cities 30 Index ranks the world's most dynamic urban areas based on a number of factors, from economic output and infrastructure to disposable income. Counting down from 30 to one, we take a look at the cities that made the cut.
30. São Paulo
Making its debut in the index, the Brazilian city of São Paulo scores highly on job and business opportunities, higher education and GDP, as well as lifestyle factors such as shopping and nightlife, but is let down by a high crime rate, soaring pollution and severe traffic congestion.
29. Minneapolis
Minneapolis moves down from 27th to 29th spot this year, but the US Midwestern city is still a great place to work. The median salary is particular high in Minneapolis and job and business opportunities are plentiful.
28. Mexico City
Like São Paulo, Mexico City makes its first appearance in the index. Though both cities share high pollution and eye-opening crime rates, Mexico City is just as vibrant as São Paulo when it comes to GDP and job openings – the unemployment rate stands at just 3.6% in the city.
27. Miami
The Florida city has low unemployment, high salaries and job opportunities galore but has fallen from 17th to 27th place this year, mainly because Schroders introduced an extra factor for 2017, the quality of a city's universities, which Miami doesn't score especially highly on.
26. Baltimore
Another index new entry, the US East Coast city of Baltimore is thriving right now. Economic growth in Baltimore and the state of Maryland as a whole is strong, particularly with regard to technology and innovation, and the job market is buzzing.
25. Philadelphia
Down this year from number 19 in 2016, Philadelphia experienced a spike in its unemployment rate earlier this year, but the job market has since recovered, and the city's economy, which is the seventh-largest metropolitan economy in the US, is on the up.
24. Shenzhen
The Chinese city has slipped from third to 24th place this year. The reason? Its universities, which lack the prestige of competing cities. Shenzhen however scored highly on other factors such as job opportunities and the growth potential of its knowledge-based economy.
23. San Diego
The laid-back Southern Californian city with the perfect climate, San Diego is a wonderful place to live as well as work. Moving six places higher this year, the city is enjoying an improving economy and falling unemployment rate.
22. Brisbane
Booming Brisbane takes the 22nd spot this year, its first time in the index. The Australian city has recorded its 26th consecutive year of economic growth, job opportunities are abundant and the median salary is high.
21. Tokyo
The Japanese capital has slipped to 21st place this year, down from 16th spot in 2016. Despite its massive GDP, low unemployment rate and high salaries, Tokyo's universities are just not as good as those in other major cities.
20. Dallas
Losing out to its rival Houston, Dallas scrapes the 20th spot this year – in 2016, the city was number seven in the index. The fall may be explained by this year's additional university factor and increasingly unsustainable house prices in the city.
19. Washington D.C.
The US capital slips down eight places this year. While D.C. is still a hugely attractive city for investors and job seekers alike, its ailing transport system and high retail prices are taking the bloom off the rose.
18. Toronto
Toronto retains 18th place this year. The only Canadian city to make the index, Toronto is the country's commercial hub and offers excellent infrastructure and job prospects. In fact, unemployment in Ontario has fallen to its lowest level in 16 years.
17. Atlanta
Atlanta has slipped several places down the index this year, presumably due to the new universities factor, but it remains one of North's America's most vibrant cities, with a hefty GDP, plenty of jobs and a decent median salary.
16. Paris
Likewise, Paris has dropped from 12th place last year to 16th in 2017. One of only two European cities to make this year's index, Paris scores highly in terms of everything from infrastructure to median salary, despite a challenging security situation.
15. San Jose
You might want to find the way to San Jose if it's a job you're after. Cutting the mustard and then some – San Jose is the economic centre of Silicon Valley after all – the Californian city makes a spectacular debut in the index this year, nabbing the 15th spot.
14. Sydney
Sydney stays at number 14 this year. With an unemployment rate of just 3.9%, the Australian city offers jobs aplenty, many of which are highly paid, and its infrastructure and higher educational establishments are excellent overall.
13. Seattle
Climbing 12 places this year, Seattle gets props for its reputable tertiary education sector. The West Coast city also rates highly for innovation, median salary and a whole host of other employment-related factors.
12. San Francisco
San Francisco is also a climber this year, up eight spots compared to 2016, thanks to its world-class universities, which total four public and 21 private colleges, not to mention myriad job opportunities and outstanding infrastructure.
11. Beijing
Last year's number one, Beijing has slipped to number 11 in 2017. The Chinese capital's lack of truly world-class universities explains the fall, along with worsening pollution levels, but Beijing actually does well when it comes to other job and investment-related factors.
10. Shanghai
Shanghai has fallen down the rankings this year for much the same reason. Its higher education just can't compete with other global cities. Be that as it may, China's most populous city is an economic powerhouse and a very attractive place to work and invest in.
9. Singapore
Breaking into the top 10 this year, Singapore has risen 12 places in the index. A fantastic place to work, Singapore has got a lot going for it, from a low unemployment rate and high median salary to superior infrastructure.
8. Melbourne
Beating Sydney, Melbourne nabs the number eight spot this year, up from number 15 in 2016. Jobs and investment-wise, the bustling Victoria capital has the edge on its flashier rival in New South Wales.
7. Houston
While Dallas flounders slightly, Houston is racing ahead. The Texan city climbs two places this year on the back of its strong economic performance, thriving job market, highly-regarded universities and improving infrastructure.
6. Hong Kong
Unlike cities on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong has gained 16 places this year, rising from 22nd to sixth place. The autonomous territory ranks very highly when it comes to economic output, employment opportunities and tertiary education.
5. New York
The only Alpha++ city (cities that are seen as hugely important in the global economy) apart from London, New York is understandably a magnet for job seekers and investors alike and its economy, employment market and higher educational system are envied the world over.
4. Chicago
Climbing a healthy six places this year to take the fourth position, the Windy City ranks highly on a wealth of key factors, including tertiary education, median salary and employment opportunities.
3. Boston
The highest climber in this year's index, Boston has jumped from 24th place in 2016 to third in 2017. The East Coast city stands head and shoulders above cities with similar populations in terms of GDP, median salary and higher education.
2. London
London takes this year's number two spot, up from number eight in 2016. Despite Brexit-induced uncertainty, the Alpha++ city remains an enticing place to work and invest in, with copious highly-paid jobs, business opportunities, distinguished universities and more.
1. Los Angeles
Commanding this year's number one position, Los Angeles has moved up five places in 2017. The City of Angels pretty much ticks all the boxes, from economic performance and job openings to higher education and infrastructure.
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