Raleigh works way atop Forbes job list

If you're looking for work, you're in a good place.

So says Forbes.com, which on Friday published its annual ranking of the "Best Cities for Jobs."

Coming in at No. 1: Raleigh-Cary.

That's up from No. 7 last year.

The area's low unemployment, strong income and job growth, relatively low cost of living, highly educated population and good weather were among the reasons cited. Forbes.com is the online arm of the financial magazine.

"Raleigh has a lot to offer, mainly the fact that it has nothing bad to offer," Forbes.com writes.

The one downside: a relatively stable housing market, which means that unlike Florida, there isn't much of "a downturn to look forward to."

Cynics might note, correctly, that this region makes a lot of "Best of..." lists. Does one more really mean much?

As the number of newcomers flocking here to find employment continues to climb, it's apparent that these lists matter, at least to some extent.

Last year, the Triangle added about 35,000 jobs, ending the year with a 3.8 unemployment rate.

Although the site points out that Raleigh is part of the "research triangle" with Durham and Chapel Hill, those cities did not make the list.

And Charlotte? It dropped four spots to No. 36.