Dayton is one of the top 30 cities for new college graduates, according to a recent Bloomberg Businessweek report. This is hopeful, yet surprising news for a city coming off the heels of the 2008 Forbes article, "America's Fastest-Dying Cities."

"Cities that, despite the economic crisis, still have strong job opportunities, decent pay and living costs that won't blow your budget" were the main criteria for the July 2010 article.

Despite the Bloomberg Businessweek's report, Dayton's unemployment rate is 11.3 percent, according to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics for June 2010. This is the 84th highest unemployment rate of the United States' 372 total metropolitan areas.

"I've got to be honest; I'm confused," said Mark Sisson, UD Career Services assistant director. "We're one of the top 10 dying cities and top for grads. I've been here nine years, and the last couple of years have been tough. I know a lot of students and alumni having a hard time finding jobs."

The Bloomberg Businessweek said the 30 cities were chosen based on AfterCollege, a website that connects college graduates with employers. AfterCollege reported that Dayton has 30 hiring entry-level employers. It is likely that many of those 30 employers are small businesses, for 627 out of the 728 businesses in downtown Dayton are comprised of 25 or less employees, according to the Downtown Dayton Partnership, a non-profit organization that is helping revitalize downtown Dayton.

"Researching and networking are the two best strategies," Sisson said. "It's often not a bad idea to look at smaller companies."

Sisson said he believes that UD students have an edge on others in the area when it comes to job searches due to the values of camaraderie the university aims to instill in its students.

"My wife is a UD alumna, and she just started her own business and hired a UD student," Sisson said. "UD alumni are always very helpful to UD students."

Sisson also highly recommends internships and co-ops for students, both of which are highly available in the Dayton region, Chamber of Commerce President Phil Parker said in the Dayton Business Journal.

Dayton also is home to many young professional groups such as Generation Dayton, an organization affiliated with the Dayton Chamber of Commerce.

"Generation Dayton is the place for the diverse pool of talented young professionals who live and work in the Dayton region to meet, network, learn, grow and establish themselves as integral components in the future success of the Dayton region," its website said.

To see Bloomberg Businessweek's full list of the best cities for college grads, visit http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/07/0715_top_cities/1.htm