National Rankings Highlight Montgomery’s Job and High-Tech Growth

The Milken Institute's Best-Performing Cities 2026report ranked the Montgomery metropolitan area 25th among large U.S. metropolitan areas for one-year job growth and 28th for one-year high-tech GDP growth. Montgomery ranked 95th overall among 206 large metropolitan areas evaluated nationwide.

The annual Milken Institute rankings examine how metropolitan economies are performing using 13 indicators across several areas, including labor-market performance, high-tech growth, economic opportunity, housing affordability and community resilience.

Montgomery's position also reflects significant longer-term improvement. The metropolitan area ranked 150th in the Institute's 2024 rankings, compared with 95th in the 2026 report.

"Montgomery's progress is increasingly showing up in the numbers," Mayor Steven L. Reed said. "Strong job growth and growth in our technology economy reflect the work being done by businesses, workers, educators and community partners across our region. We know there is more work ahead, but Montgomery is competing, growing and building a stronger foundation for the future."

The findings come as Montgomery continues efforts to strengthen its economic foundation through investments in infrastructure, workforce development, neighborhoods, quality of life and the assets needed to attract and retain businesses and talent.

The Milken Institute notes that its rankings are intended to measure the economic performance of metropolitan areas while also considering whether growth is creating opportunity and improving prosperity for residents. Montgomery's results show particular strength in its recent labor-market and technology-sector performance while also identifying areas where continued progress is needed.

For Montgomery, the rankings provide another independent measure of the city and region's economic trajectory-and another indication that the work underway today is helping position the community for long-term growth.