Talent in a Class of Its Own

Unmatched and unparalleled describe the talent pool in Raleigh. One of, if not the most remarkable, aspects of the Raleigh community is its highly educated population. Around 53.9%* of the population has a bachelor's degree or higher (within the city limits).

Attracting and retaining some of the best and brightest comes easily for a place like Raleigh, North Carolina. Thanks to many colleges and universities and three tier-1 research institutions, North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, our residents are surrounded by top-notch higher education. Not only are there options for higher education, but there are over 163,000 students enrolled across the Triangle region. That’s a lot of available talent!

Illustration of a magnifying glass over the word "JOB" on a piece of paper, symbolizing job search or recruitment.

#3 Best City
to Start a Career

Raleigh, NC, Elevate Leadership, 2024

Line drawing of three architectural structures: two tall towers and a domed building in the middle.

#5 Best College City

Raleigh, NC, WalletHub, 2024

Simplified illustration of a graduation cap placed on top of three stacked books.

#5 Most Educated City
in the U.S.

Raleigh-Cary, NC, WalletHub, 2024

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#10 City in the U.S.
for AI Jobs

Raleigh, NC, Axios, 2024

Metro Populations with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (Over Age 25)

  • 60%
    50%
    40%
    30%
    20%
    10%
    0%
  • 55.0
    San Jose, CA
  • 51.8
    San Francisco, CA
  • 51.0
    Boston, MA
  • 50.7
    Raleigh, NC
  • 50.0
    Austin, TX
  • 47.8
    Denver, CO
  • 46.8
    Seattle, WA
  • 42.2
    Atlanta, GA
  • 40.2
    Nashville, TN
  • 39.3
    Charlotte, NC
  • 38.3
    Dallas, TX
Four friends laughing and looking at their phones together outdoors.

The region’s three tier-one universities make major contributions to the technology industry through education, research and commercialization.

Research Triangle, NC

Work in the Triangle 

There are endless resources for job seekers, newcomers, and current Raleighites. 

The Work in the Triangle website is an excellent place to start when it comes to learning about the job market in the region, calculating the cost of living in Raleigh, and getting a pulse on living here. 

Visit Work in the Triangle to learn more.

Workforce Support

Our longstanding relationships with staffing agencies, workforce development agencies, upskill/reskill organizations, K-12 education institutions, and higher education institutions build a work-ready community. 

Logo for the Capitol Area Workforce Development, featuring the acronym C.A.W.D. in green and purple, with a small star and a line separating the words 'CAPITAL AREA' and 'WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT'.
Logo for North Carolina Community Colleges with the tagline 'Creating Success'.
Logo for Wake County Public School System featuring a blue shield with a white stylized building or tower, alongside the text 'Wake County Public School System' in black.
Logo of Wake Tech Community College featuring a stylized torch with lines representing flames, and the text "Wake Tech" and "Community College".

Where We Rank 

Outline of a certificate or award with a ribbon at the bottom.

55.7% of the Population has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

City of Raleigh Profile, 2024

A graphic illustration of a pyramid-like structure made of stylized human figures, arranged in stacked rows.

41.1% of the Population Aged Between 25 and 54

Esri Demographics, 2022

A minimalist line drawing of a human head with icons representing thoughts or ideas, including a car, a heart, a star, and a house, emerging from the open top of the head.

#3 State for Gen Z Migration
in 2022

North Carolina, StorageCafe, 2024

*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2021 1-year estimates

*Header Photo Source: Garrett Poulos/Visit Raleigh