The nation's #2 city for young professionals

Milwaukee ranked the nation’s #2 city for 20-something professionals by ADP Research, with a mix of global HQs and a growing tech sector. Career opportunities abound. Milwaukee’s tech community has built the channels to welcome and support newcomers - organizing frequent meetups and free startup incubators.

In 2025, the WSJ writes that Milwaukee is "benefiting from investment from a number of major companies in the area, as well as a burgeoning startup scene. In December, Eli Lilly announced a $3 billion manufacturing expansion in nearby Kenosha County that will include 750 highly skilled jobs. Northwestern Mutual and Milwaukee Tool have recently expanded their footprints in the area as well.

The city’s affordability compared with Chicago is a draw for both young professionals and companies looking to hire, according to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.

Northwestern Mutual has longstanding partnerships with Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to tap students for potential jobs. The insurance and wealth-management firm also works with nonprofits to help recruit promising, limited-income college students “we might not otherwise know,” says Kelly Culler, the company’s chief people officer. See the full article here.

Photo Credit: Visit Milwaukee