Boston's job market a perennial contender

Boston, Massachusetts – a city teeming with as much history as job opportunities. One of the key draws of Beantown is that everything is "wicked" close – in fact, according to the online website Walk Score, Boston is the third-most walkable city in the United States, behind only New York and San Francisco. Additionally, 2014 Census data estimates peg the Boston area as the third-most prodigious city when it comes to commuters who walk to work, with approximately 170,000 workers choosing to do so. This hammers home the extreme accessibility of the city – from Fenway to Fortune 500 companies, everything is just a stone's throw away. Job seekers considering this lively area as the next stop in their professional lives' have opportunities no matter what they're looking for – public or private, large or small, and across multiple industry sectors – Boston has an enviable job market for all kinds of candidates.

The Lowdown on Beantown
Around 2.6 million travel to Boston every day to work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Like any major metropolitan hub in the United States, the city provides ample access to virtually every district through the MBTA. This is important to note for job seekers, as commuting to the city can be far less expensive than living in it, depending on where you decide to settle down.

The average weather in the city is, at times, unpredictable in the winter and beautiful in the summer. U.S. Climate Data reports an annual high of 59 degrees Fahrenheit, with a low of 44 degrees. Annual snowfall usually averages around 44 inches.

Those who settle down have limitless options for nightlife on the weekends. Watch any of its four major sports teams play a game - Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox, the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics, the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins or the National Football League's New England Patriots. Residents can also take in a number of sights, like Boston Common, the Museum of Fine Arts or the New England Aquarium. Bars and clubs litter the streets, along with a host of music halls and events venues, leaving citizens with only one difficult question to ask themselves every week - "Where do you want to go tonight?"

So What's All The Hubbub About?
Despite having a seemingly endless number of activities to do on the weekend, people still do go to work in the city. Boston is a financial hub, with science and technology not far behind. "Boston has a long history as an academic, healthcare and financial center," notes Charlie Cain, Managing Director of Beacon Hill Associates and a native Bostonian. "This foundation has always provided opportunities for professional services firms of all sizes to expand their business, with many of the elite consulting firms and top law firms having significant operations or global headquarters in downtown Boston. With leaders in established industries as well as dynamic innovators in high tech and life sciences, Boston created unique momentum early in the economic recovery. The local economy is in full bloom. The competition for business and talent has never been greater." The numbers bear this out:

• Nearly 179,000 find work in the financial industry, which has a job creation rate of 2.8 percent, according to the BLS.
• Around 564,000 are employed in the education and health services industry, which still retains a 2.4 percent growth rate.
• Roughly 459,000 work in business and professional services, which is creating employment opportunities at a 2.8 percent rate.
• Almost 324,000 find employment in the government sector, which has a healthy 1.3 percent growth rate.

Boston is a major hub for those looking for employment. Its 4.1 percent unemployment rate is below the national average, and endless opportunities are available to those who put their nose to the grindstone.

This content is brought to you by the Marketing Team at Beacon Hill Staffing Group.