Move to one of these 25 ‘cities on the rise’ if you want better job opportunities in 2026
LinkedIn has released its second annual “Cities on the Rise” list, ranking the top 25 U.S. metro areas that it says have emerged as the fastest-growing destinations for jobs and new talent.
The Microsoft-owned social network analyzed its labor market data to determine where professionals are landing jobs, employers are hiring, and new graduates are launching their careers.
Augusta, Georgia, earned the top spot for 2026. Other cities on the list include Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Louisville, Kentucky; Richmond, Virginia; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
For those exploring new career opportunities, this list offers insight into high-growth cities for jobs and new talent. Check out the full list below.
Top 25 cities for 2026:
- Augusta, Georgia
- Richmond, Virginia
- Reno, Nevada
- North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Pensacola, Florida
- Austin, Texas
- Portland, Maine
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Albany, New York
- Portland, Oregon
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wisconsin (Fox Cities)
- Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Sacramento, California
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Wilmington, North Carolina
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
Here’s why Augusta is ranked No. 1
Augusta sits at the top of the list. If you’re looking for new career opportunities and have the flexibility to relocate, you may want to consider looking for work here, LinkedIn says.
Top industries hiring in the region include higher education, hospitals and healthcare, and electric power generation. The city’s top employers include Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the U.S. Army, and Augusta University.
The U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Eisenhower is based here, as is the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center, which is the country’s largest state-owned cybersecurity facility. Beyond defense and cybersecurity, growing industries include medtech and data centers.
The median household income is $55,485, while the average home listing price is $396,195. LinkedIn data shows that from February 1, 2024, to February 1, 2026, 26.5% of advertised jobs in the metro area were remote and 3.5% were hybrid.
More than half of the cities were featured in last year’s list
A year ago, LinkedIn released its inaugural “Cities on the Rise” list. Augusta didn’t earn a spot on last year’s roundup.
However, 60% of the cities from that ranking returned this year, including Richmond, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Albany, New York; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, which held the top spot in last year’s ranking, fell to 25th place this year—a dramatic shift. Forty percent of the U.S. metros highlighted this year are making their first appearance.
New metros include:
- Augusta, Georgia
- North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wisconsin (Fox Cities)
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Louisville, Kentucky
