Hiring demand for HR professionals has been increasing. In April 2013, there were more than 82,000 HR jobs available online. With more competition to attract this talent, it’s likely that employers will see more difficulties when sourcing candidates. We looked at the current hiring demand and candidate supply in major metro areas across the U.S. and found the 10 cities that are likely to be the best places to source candidates.
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Below are the 10 metro areas with at least 1,000 potential HR candidates in the workforce and the lowest scores on the WANTED Analytics Hiring Scale. The Hiring Scale ranges from 1 to 99, with 99 representing the most difficult-to-recruit conditions. The below 10 metro areas all score below a 45. Norwich-New London currently has the best conditions in the U.S. for sourcing HR talent, scoring a 33 on the Hiring Scale.
- Norwich-New London, Conn.
- Rochester, N.Y.
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ariz.
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.
- Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.
- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
- Columbia, S.C.
- Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif.
- Springfield, Mass.
- Mobile, Ala.
Because these above locations have low demand, but still claim a relatively large talent pool, it’s likely that employers will experience significantly less competition to attract qualified potential candidates. By targeting job ads in these areas, sourcing candidates, and considering relocation of a candidate, employers may be able to fill jobs faster. The average posting period in these metro areas is five weeks, compared to the national average of more than six weeks.
In comparison, if you’re an HR professional looking for work, these cities are likely to present challenges for you. With only a few openings and a relatively full talent pool, you’re likely to face more competition from other candidates when applying for jobs. We can reverse the Hiring Scale to look at locations with high demand, yet talent pools unable to support hiring. Some of the best locations to find a job in HR are Waco (Texas), Charleston (West Virginia), and Anchorage (Alaska).
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