Best Cities For Jobs In 2026: Where Minneapolis, St. Paul Rank

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — As workers head into 2026 amid a still-tight labor market, where you live can make a major difference in job opportunities, pay, and long-term stability.

A new WalletHub study ranking the Best Cities for Jobs in 2026 evaluated more than 180 U.S. cities using 31 factors tied to employment strength, including job openings per applicant, employment growth, starting salaries, and income adjusted for cost of living.

Minneapolis ranked No. 23 overall on the list, while St. Paul placed No. 41.

According to the analysis, Minneapolis scored especially well on socioeconomic factors such as income levels and overall job quality, even though its job market ranking lagged behind some faster-growing Sun Belt cities.

St. Paul also posted strong socio-economic marks, ranking seventh nationally in that category, but landed lower overall due to fewer job opportunities relative to population.

Among nearby regional cities, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, ranked No. 44 overall and tied for the lowest unemployment rate in the country. Fargo, North Dakota, placed No. 79, while Bismarck ranked No. 16 overall and finished first nationwide for affordable housing.

Nationally, Scottsdale, Arizona, topped the list as the best city for jobs in 2026, followed by Columbia, Maryland, and Portland, Maine.

WalletHub analysts said the rankings go beyond simple unemployment figures, weighing job quality, income potential, commuting time and housing affordability to give a fuller picture of where workers are most likely to thrive.

The full study compared cities across metrics including employment growth, starting salaries, work-life balance, and housing costs, highlighting wide differences between regions despite a generally resilient national job market.

Check out the full study here.