Seattle ranked fifth in the nation for job growth during the period between January 2011 and January 2012, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal. Washington state was fifteenth in the nation. The W.P. School of Business at Arizona State University conducted the study, indicating these percentage increases.

1. Houston - 3.7 percent
2. Atlanta - 3.1 percent
3. Denver - 2.5 percent
4. Dallas - 2.4 percent
5. Seattle - 2.2 percent

The state's overall employment base grew by 1.49 percent for the same period. And that's not all. Seattle has become a significant player in green technology.

Green Chip Stocks, a blog that tracks developments in the cleantech industry, ranks the Emerald City fifth for its strides toward raising green standards. Here are the highlights:

• The Green Building Sustainable Communities Program creates city projects that meet sustainable outcomes.
• Seattle invests in deriving electricity from garbage landfills.
• The Green Fleet Plan, housed in Seattle, looks for alternative sources of fuel, advanced technology vehicles, fuel reduction policies, and educational programs.
• The local community demonstrates initiative and participation in energy efficiency policies.

For additional updates on the region, see the Seattle TimesMarket Review.