People like lists. Readers want rankings to provide perspective, validation and order. And, of course, these lists are always a good topic of debate. Some of these lists are totally subjective (e.g., People magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most beautiful people), while others are based on criteria, surveys, data, research (e.g., Multifamily Executive magazine’s “Top 10 Rent Growth Markets of 2014”). In the business world, and especially in the investment arena, recognizing and understanding trends is paramount to success.
Being in the publishing industry, I take note of such lists — all kinds of lists — and consider 1) maybe we can use a similar type of list in one of our magazines and 2) what’s the takeaway — if any — from this list?
Below are a few lists for you to ponder that I’ve collected in recent weeks.
U.S. News & World Report published its list of annual best job rankings, based on employment growth from 2012 to 2022 as predicted by the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. The publication notes that for the first time ever, the number one ranked job isn’t from the healthcare industry — it’s a tech job.
- Software developer
- Computer systems analyst
- Dentist
- Nurse practitioner
- Pharmacist
- Registered nurse
- Physical therapist
- Physician
- Web developer
- Dental hygienist
Note: Indeed the tech sector is currently booming and has been a prime driver of recent economic growth. Tech-centric commercial real estate markets, such as San Francisco, Boston, Seattle and Austin, rank high on investors’ lists.
Forbes magazine recently employed Praxis Strategy Group to gauge the MSAs with the most economic momentum heading into 2014. The firm developed several metrics to determine its rankings. The publication noted that most of the strongest local economies on the list combine the positive characteristics associated with blue states — educated people, tech-oriented industries, racial diversity — with largely red, pro-business administrations.
- Austin
- San Antonio
- Salt Lake City
- Houston
- Nashville
- Dallas
- Denver
- Oklahoma City
- Raleigh, N.C.
- San Jose
Note: Claiming four of the top 10 cities, Texas reigns supreme. The Lone Star State and California are expected to account for approximately 22 percent of the 2.6 million new jobs projected for 2014, according to research by Moody’s Analytics.
Here’s an interesting list generated from a Gallup study that appeared recently in USA Today: The most miserable states in the USA. The rankings are based on The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which interviewed more than 176,000 people from all 50 states last year to measure the physical and emotional health of Americans across the country. West Virginia remained at the bottom of the list for the fifth consecutive year. The article noted that no Americans had as negative an outlook about their future as West Virginians. Just 44.8 percent of residents described themselves as thriving, the lowest in the nation. In addition, West Virginia also had the lowest score for overall emotional health.
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Ohio
- Arkansas
- Tennessee
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
- Louisiana
Note: North Dakota topped the well-being list in 2013. And is it any wonder that the citizens of North Dakota are doing so well? Its large shale oil formations have made it the fastest growing economy in the United States; its unemployment rate is 2.6 percent.
A few of my recent takeaways from the world of lists:
- San Francisco ranked number one in 2014 Emerging Trends in Real Estate’s U.S. Markets to Watch in the categories of Development Prospects and Homebuilding Prospects and number two in the category of Investment Prospects. There’s no doubt The City by the Bay is on fire! It’s been a very long time since we’ve seen so many construction cranes in San Francisco.
- Currently ranked number two in USA Today’s Coaches Poll, the Wichita State basketball team, at 31-0, is looking pretty good for the March Madness office pool.
- After much deliberation, Institutional Real Estate, Inc. will not be publishing a list of the commercial real estate industry’s 100 most beautiful people.
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Larry Gray is editorial director of Institutional Real Estate, Inc.
