Arlington, Virginia is fairly unique among cities, in that it is not a city at all but an 'urban county' consisting of a collection of neighborhoods. Located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Arlington is a sort of twin city to our nation's capitol in that much of its development is an offshoot of Washington's. Since Arlington doesn't have the same building height restrictions that Washington has, high-rise office and residence towers have proliferated in the city. Arlington is ranked as one of the most educated cities in America, and one of the most recession-proof. The city's median household income is one of the twenty highest in the country.

Washington D.C.'s proximity means that Arlington's biggest employment sectors either are or related to the United States government. The Pentagon, which is the world's largest office building, is located in Arlington despite having a Washington, D.C. address. The Arlington National Cemetery and the national airport are also here. Arlington based workers are most likely to be employed in scientific and technical services, followed by public administration, education, lobbying, and construction. Though the workforce is heavily weighted toward the white collar end of the spectrum, the numerous office buildings and residential towers constantly being built offer opportunities for tradesmen as well.

The city's top employer is, of course, the federal government; however, some companies in the private sector are thriving as well, usually feeding off of lucrative government contracts. The Virginia Hospital Center takes top spot with just over 2,300 employees, followed by Corporate Executive Board, US Airways, Lockheed Martin, Marriot International, and BAE Systems, all with around 1,500 employees. As you can see from some of the names on this list, the aerospace industry is alive and well in Arlington thanks to defence contracts from across the river.

As you would expect from a city rated safe in a recession, the unemployment rate is low, sitting at only 2.4%. Even in a recession, Arlington has nearly as many jobs as it does residents. Commuting changes the population somewhat during the day, with some people traveling across the river to work in Washington and others traveling in from surrounding counties to work in Arlington. This adds about 47,000 people to Arlington's existing population of 204,000 during weekdays. Living and working in Arlington is possible, since the city maintains a balance between residential and commercial development. The ratio is 46% commercial and 54% residential.

If this sounds like a city in which you would like to work, please browse the rest of ArlingtonZip.com to learn more!