• Birmingham, Alabama, and Tampa Bay topped payroll processor ADP's annual ranking.

Yes, but: Atlanta landed in the bottom half, at No. 36 out of 53 metros ranked.

• The metro has a 2.2% hiring rate, per ADP.
• Its annual wage estimate is $52,100, compared with $59,000 in Birmingham.

How it works: This year's rankings are based on wages, hiring rates and cost of living data in 53 metros with at least one million residents.

• The survey specifically examined the hiring of people in their 20s for jobs that typically require a bachelor's degree.

The rest of the top 10 metros are:

• San Jose, California
• Columbus, Ohio
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Tulsa, Oklahoma
• San Francisco
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• New York

At the bottom of the rankings are:

• Salt Lake City
• Riverside, California
• San Diego
• Portland, Oregon

The bottom line: Entry-level hiring is rebounding. But young professionals' prospects depend on the specific role, sector and location, the Wall Street Journal reports.