Which Cities Are Leading for New Workers?

The shaky job market is hitting Gen Z harder than other generations. As of December 2025, younger workers had much higher unemployment rates (4.1%-13.7%, depending on age) than those age 35 or older (3.4% or lower).

However, when it comes to job prospects, not all cities are created equal. Employer services platform Checkr recently created a ranking of the best cities for Gen Z workers.

What Makes a City Good for Gen Z?

To find cities that are good options for Gen Z, Checkr looked at the following:

• Income to rent ratios
• How many renters are paying less than 30% of their income in rent
• Real personal income
• Unemployment rate
• Rate of labor force participation
• The portion of the population that’s Gen Z
• Ratio of entertainment establishments to Gen Z residents

This data was used to create rankings for affordability, employment prospects, and social life.

Top 5 U.S. Cities for Gen Z Workers

If you’re a member of Gen Z (currently ages 18-28) trying to decide where to move or where to look for work, you can use the lists of top cities by size to narrow your search. Or, take a look at one of these top five choices from the best 100 cities of all sizes for Gen Z workers.

All rankings are out of 100, with 1 being the best.

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison ranked number one for employment opportunities out of all the cities on the list. It’s a great choice if you want to move somewhere with a good job market and plenty of opportunities to build a busy social life.

• Employment: 1
• Affordability: 22
• Social scene: 11

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis ranked even higher than Madison for social opportunities. Its employment prospects are still strong, and it’s more affordable to live in than Madison.

• Employment: 10
• Affordability: 15
• Social scene: 8

Des Moines, Iowa

Though Des Moines just edges out of the top 25% of affordable cities, it ranks high for employment opportunities. It also has a thriving social scene.

• Employment: 6
• Affordability: 26
• Social scene: 15

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is the second-most affordable city out of the top five (and the third most affordable in the top 10). Its employment numbers are strong, and there are plenty of social and cultural opportunities for young workers to take advantage of in their downtime.

• Employment: 20
• Affordability: 21
• Social scene: 13

Nashville, Tennessee

Though Nashville is one of the less-affordable cities in the top five, it has strong employment prospects for young workers. And of course the city is known for its vibrant nightlife and music scene, making it an appealing option for younger workers.

• Employment: 14
• Affordability: 41
• Social scene: 23

What This Means for Gen Z

Cities on the Checkr list are far more likely to be in the midwest than on either coast. Out of the top 25 cities, only one (Seattle, Washington) is on the west coast, and only Boston, Massachusetts; Albany, New York; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Charlotte, North Carolina, are on the east coast. (For this list, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is not considered an east coast city.)

This trend becomes even more pronounced when looking at midsize and smaller cities. The list of the 10 best mid-sized cities for Gen Z only includes one city on either coast (Burlington, Vermont), and the 10 best small cities don’t include any.

For Gen Z workers in the early stages of their careers, finding a fun and affordable place to live with plenty of job prospects might mean looking outside well-known coastal cities and focusing their search on the center of the country.