The Hub City has cracked the top ten in what one study claims are the top performing cities in the country.

The Melkin Institute has ranked Lafayette 9th on their top 200 list.

The city's new top ten ranking as one of the best performing cities the country caught some people off guard.

The study, by the Milken Institute ranks areas based on job, wage and salary, and technological growth, meaning the local job market is starting to take a turn.

It’s opening the door for locals like Amanda Cawthorne.  "When I did receive the call  I was like thank god I said I really did it."

With this being the third consecutive year Lafayette's moved up the list Unemployment officers say, this finally proves what their numbers have been showing.

"Recently I've seen a different change things are going back down things are seeming to be getting better again" says Tina Johnstone with the Lafayette Business and Carrier Center. 

Also adding to the Hub City's bragging rights not only the top ten, but also being labeled #1 in the state, yet again, with Lafayette ranking higher than Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and even New Orleans.

"As long as we continue to leverage the assets that we have with the university and the technology base established in the city we'll continue to move up that list" says LEDA Chairman Tom Cox.

Tom Cox is chair of the Hub City's economic development association, and says this ranking is just another step towards staying on top during some of the toughest times.

"We weren't in the top ten last year - being #9 this year puts us in the company of cities like Austin Texas Raleigh Durham North Carolina."

 For all those still looking for work, here is your glimmer of hope.  

While Lafayette's unemployment seems to be recovering a bit the rest of the nation continues to spiral with the latest figures showing the country at 10.2% unemployment.