Who will survive Amazon's next HQ2 elimination round?

Dear Amazon,

I’m onto you for your HQ2 search/publicity stunt, as if you needed more attention, but I admit: I’m hooked. I can’t seem to stop myself from clicking on any headline containing “HQ2.” This corporate headquarters search has all of the trappings of the best competitive reality shows in my lineup, and I’m not complaining.

It started with a public request for proposals, the outcome of which brought us good, bad and ugly auditions (Most involving the line “Alexa, where should Amazon’s HQ2 be located?”) reminiscent of American Idol, with Bezos in Simon Cowell’s chair saying “Next.”

Last month, though, we rolled out our first Job Market Diversification Report, which evaluates and rates cities (Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSAs), according to how diversified their job markets are by industry, company and job category. Cities with a healthy variety of sectors, companies and job categories receive the highest scores, while areas with limited options for job seekers, or with too much dependence on a small group of companies and industries, score lower.

The chances of a healthy pool of pre-existing talent are higher in a more diversified job market. Choosing a city with a wide variety of employment options bodes well for families that would potentially relocate to your next headquarters. Just as we can all benefit from more interaction with diverse cultures, being among a well-represented cross section of the workforce will help Amazon better serve and understand its customers.

So there you have it, Amazon. I don’t claim to know everything going into your final decision, but I do know a thing or two about elimination rounds. Don’t pick the sexiest city; pick the one with the biggest potential for long-term growth. When the cameras stop rolling on this fantastic miniseries, this marriage will be tough to annul.