For New College Grads, Austin is a Top Pick for Starting a Career

Since the Great Recession, college grads have been entering the workforce burdened with debt and challenged by a widespread scarcity of available jobs. To make the transition from college life to real life a little less difficult, Livability.com has compiled a list of U.S. cities that provide the most ideal environments for college grads to start out after school. Austin took the third spot on the list of 10 best cities for new college grads.  

Livability.com gauged each U.S. metro area based on factors such as the number of 25- to 34-year-olds living in each city, the availability of rental properties, unemployment rates, educational attainment levels, use of public transportation and the types of jobs these places offer. It also looked at cities that cater to a younger demographic by offering lots of recreational activities, hot nightlife and a hip vibe. The assessment created a list of places where new college graduates are likely to find jobs they'd actually want, homes they can afford and a social scene that allows them to more easily make new friends, fit in and engage with the community.

Top-hiring industries were also taken into account. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the top-hiring industries are: educational services; professional, scientific and technical services; healthcare and social assistance; and government. Starting salaries for recent college grads have risen over the last two years, a trend the class of 2014 would like to see continue.

Austin is home to the highest population of 25 to 34-year-olds on the list, which allows recent grads to meet plenty of people their age and from diverse backgrounds. Since Austin’s job market is as diverse as its people, the city provides opportunities for students of almost every major. Major industries here include computer technology, research and development, and engineering, but there are also a bevy of entrepreneurs, artists and musicians. Austin's rental vacancy rate hovers around a healthy 5 percent, showing that newcomers can find a place to stay but demand is high.

Here’s a snapshot of the city’s major statistics from the report:

Number of 25- to 34-year-olds: 171,526

*Number of available jobs: 20,025

Hot jobs: computer technology, research and development, engineering

Top employers: IBM, Apple, Advanced Micro Devices

*According to Indeed.com