According to a recent study by the Manpower Group employment service published by Business Insider, despite gloomy U.S. unemployment statistics, there were a few bright spots for job hunters across the national landscape—and the Charleston area is one of the brightest.

Surveying more than 18,000 employers in 100 metropolitan areas, Manpower asked the companies to report their projected employment status October through December 2012. All employers that participated in the survey were asked, “How do you anticipate total employment at your location to change in the three months to the end of December 2012 as compared to the current quarter?”

Out of the employers surveyed, 17% said they expect to add to their workforce; 9% expect to cut jobs; and 72% think that there won’t be any changes to their staff. The cities with the highest “net employment outlook”—percent of employers planning to increase hiring minus the percent of employers planning to decrease hiring—were than ranked by order to create a list of the best 14 Best Cities in America to Find a Job.

The study brings good news for Lowcountry job hunters: Charleston landed in the number five position, behind cities like San Jose, Greensboro, and Ft. Myers. The tri-county area’s net employment outlook was calculated to be 16%, with 22% of companies planning to increase hiring and only 6% planning to decrease.

Read more about the study.

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