As the class of 2021 prepares to enter a job market rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic, the first thought might be to head to a big coastal city like Los Angeles or New York to land an entry-level position.
But depending on the industry, the odds may be just as good further off the beaten path, in smaller cities like Waco, Texas; Burlington, Vermont; or Sarasota, Florida, according to research by job site LinkedIn given exclusively to USA TODAY.
Those cities are in regions that are among the fastest-growing for entry-level positions, spurred by the need to fill jobs in industries like health care, IT, transportation and retail.