The job market for white-collar workers is shifting as major cities in the Northeast, particularly Washington, DC, Boston, and Philadelphia, are experiencing significant declines in job postings. In contrast, cities like New York City, Louisville, and St. Louis are seeing increased demand. The trends highlight a migration of job opportunities from traditional hubs to smaller metros, influenced by factors such as layoffs and varying living costs. Despite high costs, New York City continues to attract new graduates, showcasing a complex job landscape in the U.S.
In the past two years, with the exception of New York City, the share of white-collar job postings across the country shrank in many major cities.
Washington, DC, Boston, and Philadelphia saw the biggest declines in their share of national white-collar job postings between Q2 2023 and Q2 2025.
Even with New York City's high cost of living and low adjusted salary, the city still attracts a high share of new graduates.
Job postings are leaving much of the Northeast and moving toward the South and Midwestern regions of the country.
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