Area Development recently ranked 399 MSAs across 16 economic and work force indicators, which were pulled from six (6) data sets originating with the Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census American Community Survey. Based on this methodology, the Pacific and South-Atlantic regions dominate the list of Leading Metro Locations for 2019. In fact, five of the top-10 metros are in the Pacific region: Reno (NV) ranked first overall, followed in the remaining top-10 spots by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara(CA), Napa (CA), San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco (CA), Columbus (IN), Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley (CA), Seattle-Bellevue-Everett (WA), Spartanburg (SC), Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford (FL), and St. Louis (MO-IL).

Based on overall results, MSAs were ranked across nine (9) regions, as well as according to size in three categories: large (population >600,000), mid-size (population 160,000–600,000), and small (population <160,000). They were also ranked within the “Prime Workforce,” “Economic Strength,” “Five-Year Growth,” and “Year-Over-Year Growth” categories, each based on selected indicators.

San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco (CA) ranked first for “Prime Workforce” and was also the overall leader among large metros. Reno (NV) ranked first among mid-size metros and was the leader for “Year-Over-Year Growth” as well as “Five-Year Growth.” Napa (CA) ranked first among small metros. The overall leader in the “Economic Strength” category was Decatur (AL).

The 2019 Leading Metros reflect the nation’s overall economic growth, as the country enjoys the longest economic expansion on record. Additionally, leading MSAs have demonstrated that having a prime workforce is essential to short- and long-term economic growth.