Charlotte ranks high for recent college grads seeking jobs, per a new study

The Charlotte metro area ranks in the top five job markets for recent college graduates, according to a new study.

Why it matters: The percentage of recent U.S. college graduates choosing to call Charlotte home grew over the past decade, data from real estate firm JLL shows. The area has responded with new development that's transforming neighborhoods , both close to city center and farther out .

State of play: ADP, a payroll software maker, named Charlotte fifth as the most promising job market for recent graduates in its new study . Raleigh ranked first, followed by the Baltimore, Austin and Atlanta metros.

The big picture: Sun Belt metro areas have the highest hiring rate for recent graduates, per ADP.

• The South dominated the study, with cities that have strong science and tech scenes and several universities.

What we're watching: A four-year medical school, the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, is under construction in Charlotte. It fits the tech, science and university characteristics that make the top cities in the study so popular.

• Stakeholders describe it as the "most innovative medical school in the country" with artificial intelligence embedded into the curriculum, as Axios' Alexandria Sands reported .

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