The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly shifted the job market in cities and towns across the country. Millions of layoffs in early 2020 forced workers to search elsewhere for jobs. Record numbers of workers have quit their jobs in the past year in favor of new pursuits in different locales. And concerns over virus spread in population-dense areas also inspired many to leave urban areas, and their jobs, in favor of rural ones.
Emerging job markets in places like Austin, Texas, Nashville, Tennessee, and Salt Lake City reflect cultural shifts in what workers are looking for in their jobs and their places of residence: year-round warmth that makes outdoor activities easy, lower income taxes, and tech-focused employers.
Stacker compiled a list of metros where the most people from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA found new jobs using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Jobs-to-Jobs Flows. Metros are ranked by the number of people that started a new job from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in the first quarter of 2021.
California Droning // Shutterstock
1 / 30#30. Vallejo, CA
- Started a new job in Vallejo, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 377
--- 0.5% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Vallejo, CA in Q1 2021: 393
--- #2 most common destination from Vallejo, CA
- Net job flow: 16 to Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Basar // Wikicommons
2 / 30#29. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
- Started a new job in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 397
--- 0.5% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA in Q1 2021: 322
--- #1 most common destination from San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
- Net job flow: 75 to San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
f11photo // Shutterstock
3 / 30#28. Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
- Started a new job in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 406
--- 0.5% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN in Q1 2021: 119
--- #7 most common destination from Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
- Net job flow: 287 to Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Skyguy414 // Wikicommons
4 / 30#27. Salt Lake City, UT
- Started a new job in Salt Lake City, UT from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 433
--- 0.5% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Salt Lake City, UT in Q1 2021: 218
--- #5 most common destination from Salt Lake City, UT
- Net job flow: 215 to Salt Lake City, UT
#26. Modesto, CA
- Started a new job in Modesto, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 433
--- 0.5% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Modesto, CA in Q1 2021: 389
--- #3 most common destination from Modesto, CA
- Net job flow: 44 to Modesto, CA
Kolossos // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 30#25. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
- Started a new job in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 445
--- 0.5% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL in Q1 2021: 297
--- #19 most common destination from Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
- Net job flow: 148 to Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
Matt314 // Wikicommons
7 / 30#24. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
- Started a new job in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 453
--- 0.6% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA in Q1 2021: 475
--- #1 most common destination from Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
- Net job flow: 22 to Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Christopher & Amy Esposito // Wikicommons
8 / 30#23. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Started a new job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 519
--- 0.6% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI in Q1 2021: 593
--- #14 most common destination from Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Net job flow: 74 to Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
VISALIA2010 // Wikicommons
9 / 30#22. Visalia, CA
- Started a new job in Visalia, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 534
--- 0.7% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Visalia, CA in Q1 2021: 546
--- #2 most common destination from Visalia, CA
- Net job flow: 12 to Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Epccedu // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 30#21. El Paso, TX
- Started a new job in El Paso, TX from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 562
--- 0.7% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from El Paso, TX in Q1 2021: 120
--- #2 most common destination from El Paso, TX
- Net job flow: 442 to El Paso, TX
#20. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
- Started a new job in Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 594
--- 0.7% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX in Q1 2021: 205
--- #5 most common destination from Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
- Net job flow: 389 to Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
Stuart Seeger // Wikicommons
12 / 30#19. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
- Started a new job in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 599
--- 0.7% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA in Q1 2021: 267
--- #5 most common destination from Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
- Net job flow: 332 to Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
f11photo // Shutterstock
13 / 30#18. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Started a new job in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 605
--- 0.7% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO in Q1 2021: 352
--- #5 most common destination from Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Net job flow: 253 to Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
LPS.1 // Wikicommons
14 / 30#17. Stockton, CA
- Started a new job in Stockton, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 611
--- 0.8% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Stockton, CA in Q1 2021: 659
--- #3 most common destination from Stockton, CA
- Net job flow: 48 to Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Keizers // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 30#16. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA
- Started a new job in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 622
--- 0.8% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA in Q1 2021: 430
--- #15 most common destination from Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA
- Net job flow: 192 to Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA
#15. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Started a new job in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 747
--- 0.9% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX in Q1 2021: 466
--- #9 most common destination from Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Net job flow: 281 to Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
#14. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Started a new job in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 892
--- 1.1% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA in Q1 2021: 496
--- #7 most common destination from Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Net job flow: 396 to Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
#13. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
- Started a new job in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 1,147
--- 1.4% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA in Q1 2021: 1,008
--- #0 most common destination from Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
- Net job flow: 139 to Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
King of Hearts // Wikimedia
19 / 30#12. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Started a new job in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 1,164
--- 1.4% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA in Q1 2021: 1,574
--- #11 most common destination from New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Net job flow: 410 to Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Alan Botting // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 30#11. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
- Started a new job in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 1,356
--- 1.7% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX in Q1 2021: 612
--- #5 most common destination from Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
- Net job flow: 744 to Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
randy andy // Shutterstock
21 / 30#10. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
- Started a new job in Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 1,498
--- 1.8% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV in Q1 2021: 685
--- #1 most common destination from Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
- Net job flow: 813 to Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
nickchapman // Wikicommons
22 / 30#9. Bakersfield, CA
- Started a new job in Bakersfield, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 1,633
--- 2.0% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Bakersfield, CA in Q1 2021: 1,693
--- #0 most common destination from Bakersfield, CA
- Net job flow: 60 to Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
#8. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
- Started a new job in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 1,684
--- 2.1% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ in Q1 2021: 861
--- #1 most common destination from Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
- Net job flow: 823 to Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
David Jordan // Wikicommons
24 / 30#7. Fresno, CA
- Started a new job in Fresno, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 2,667
--- 3.3% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Fresno, CA in Q1 2021: 1,715
--- #0 most common destination from Fresno, CA
- Net job flow: 952 to Fresno, CA
#6. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
- Started a new job in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 3,107
--- 3.8% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA in Q1 2021: 2,984
--- #1 most common destination from Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
- Net job flow: 123 to Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
CameronK23 // Wikimedia Commons
26 / 30#5. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
- Started a new job in Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 3,202
--- 4.0% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA in Q1 2021: 3,039
--- #0 most common destination from Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
- Net job flow: 163 to Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
Don Ramey Logan // Wikicommons
27 / 30#4. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Started a new job in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 3,545
--- 4.4% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA in Q1 2021: 3,243
--- #1 most common destination from San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Net job flow: 302 to San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
en:User:Paul.h // Wikimedia
28 / 30#3. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
- Started a new job in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 9,615
--- 11.9% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA in Q1 2021: 8,520
--- #0 most common destination from San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
- Net job flow: 1,095 to San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#2. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
- Started a new job in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 10,853
--- 13.4% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA in Q1 2021: 9,554
--- #0 most common destination from San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
- Net job flow: 1,299 to San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Daniel Orth // Flickr
30 / 30#1. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
- Started a new job in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA from Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in Q1 2021: 19,822
--- 24.5% of total new out-of-metro jobs
- Started a new job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA from Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA in Q1 2021: 19,625
--- #0 most common destination from Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
- Net job flow: 197 to Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
