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Top jobs in a down economy

Kasey Ruedas Yanna | August 13, 2009 | no comments

During this economic recession, many recent college graduates are wondering what industries are paying top-dollar for Generation Y. It just so happens that the U.S. Census Bureau has a database, Quarterly Workforce Indicators, that provides local employment information and can answer questions like “What are the best paying jobs?”

With help from economic blogger Brian Kelsey, I was able to navigate the QWL database and find the top paying industries for newly hired males and females between the ages of 22 and 24 in five metro areas across the country.

Austin-Round Rock (Texas)

  1. Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing $43,884
  2. Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments $34,488
  3. Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods $33,312
  4. Machinery Manufacturing $31,944
  5. Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction $31,104

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta (Georgia)

  1. Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries $39,948
  2. Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments $36,072
  3. Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing $35,700
  4. Telecommunications $35,436
  5. Utilities $34,680

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (California)

  1. Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing $49,032
  2. Information Services $44,688
  3. Support Activities for Mining $43,620
  4. Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments $41,808
  5. Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction $41,736

Chicago-Naperville-Joliet (Illinois)

  1. Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction $45,936
  2. Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries $44,064
  3. Utilities $43,440
  4. Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments $42,756
  5. Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles $38,088

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (New York)

  1. Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments $62,760
  2. Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction $52,824
  3. Water Transportation $42,012
  4. Utilities $41,196
  5. Hospitals $40,848

Many of these fields require a specific academic degree, and are clearly not for everyone. But if you have a penchant for numbers, computers, or science, you should do well even in this economy. How are you finding the job market in your city?

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Category: Business

About the Author: Kasey recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin. Her writing focuses on shedding light on current political issues from an independent point of view. While she tends to vote with the Democratic ticket, Kasey has conservative views as well. She thinks that what’s most important is that people are knowledgeable about all sides of an issue before forming an educated opinion. Kasey and her husband, Jason, reside in Arlington, Texas.

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