Dubuque climbs latest Forbe List

"Unemployment rates are at their lowest levels since 2001," he said. "I don't think we've returned to the boom times of the late 1990s by any stretch, but we now have a pretty healthy environment for workers."

In the rankings' heavily weighted job-creation category, Dubuque moved up 55 spots, from 97th to 42nd, and from 109th to 54th in personal income growth.

Dubuque climbed 50 spots from last year on the prominent list of 179 smaller U.S. metros, notching the second-biggest gain among cities in the study, according to Greater Dubuque Development Corp.

Forbes ranked the Dubuque metro, including all of Dubuque County, 15th on its annual list of the "Best Small Places for Business and Careers."

Buoyed by solid job and income growth gains, the Dubuque metropolitan area soared up Forbes magazine's latest list rating U.S. cities on business climate.

Metro area No. 15 on the 'Best Small Places for Business, Careers'
by M.D. KITTLE