The study details the economic output and overall employment rate in the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas through 2010, important things to know for people planning on moving as employment is crucial to affordable housing.
One of the most telling findings was that how well a metro area is recovering after the recession has little to do with how hard it was affected by it. For instance, Bakersfield, California and New Orleans, Louisiana were among the metro areas hardest hit by the recession but they're now among the 20 fastest-recovering areas.
Other findings indicate local government employment fell for 60 of the 100 largest metro areas but overall job growth increased in 49. Only 14 of the 100 metropolitan areas saw consistent growth - over at least three consecutive quarters - which included Boston, Denver, Austin, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Oklahoma City.
The few number of western cities with consistent job growth may help explain why the housing market continues to struggle throughout much of that region.
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