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Top Cities and Trends for Tech Talent in 2024
Looking to new data from 2023 The SignalFire State of Talent Report for 2023 offers fresh clues on what's ahead as the report from SignalFire delves deep into the dynamic landscape of the tech workforce, offering valuable insights into emerging trends and shifting paradigms. Despite the challenges posed by layoffs and the ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), 2023 marked a pivotal year where the burgeoning AI sector began to intertwine with business strategies and hiring practices.
Navigating the Data: Key Findings from the Report
The report draws from SignalFire’s proprietary AI engine, Beacon, which meticulously tracks over 600 million employees and 80 million companies. Among the notable revelations:
- Austin Ascends: With a remarkable 44% growth in big tech and a 23% increase in top VC-backed startups, Austin emerges as a burgeoning tech hub, showcasing Texas' prominence in the tech talent market.
- New York City’s Magnetism: NYC claims the lion’s share of relocating tech talent, attracting nearly twice as many individuals as other top destinations, signaling a shift in preferences amidst post-pandemic workforce dynamics.
- Silicon Valley’s Exodus: While Silicon Valley retains its status as a tech mecca, it faces a notable outflow of talent to emerging tech hubs like NYC and Austin, reflecting a broader dispersion of tech talent across the country.
Deciphering Generational Trends
The report also sheds light on the evolving dynamics within the tech workforce across different generations:
- Gen Z Career Trajectories: Gen Z demonstrates a propensity for job mobility, with a reluctance to pursue managerial roles compared to previous generations, potentially reshaping future leadership pipelines.
- Job-Hopping Phenomenon: Gen Z exhibits a proclivity for job changes, surpassing previous generations in the frequency and pace of transitions, posing challenges and opportunities for employers seeking to retain talent.
AI's Influence on Hiring and Talent Acquisition
In the realm of artificial intelligence:
- Data Engineering Dominance: Data engineers emerge as the linchpin of AI advancement, surpassing data analysts in demand and prominence, underlining the critical role of data infrastructure in driving AI initiatives.
- The AI-vy League: Contrary to conventional wisdom, the highest concentration of AI talent resides not in tech giants or prestigious universities, but in a select group of AI-focused startups, challenging traditional hiring paradigms.
Looking Ahead: Predictions and Recommendations
As the tech landscape continues to evolve, SignalFire offers forward-looking predictions and actionable recommendations for founders and organizations:
- Anticipating New Job Categories: AI’s integration into workplace tools is poised to birth new job categories, necessitating proactive organizational design and talent strategies to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
- Embracing Remote Work: With remote work poised for resurgence, companies equipped with flexible, remote-ready structures stand to gain a competitive edge in attracting and retaining top talent.
- Embracing Fractional Work: Recognizing the trend towards fractional and consulting roles, companies can leverage this model to navigate economic uncertainties and tap into diverse talent pools.
20 of the Best Cities for Tech Jobs in 2024
As more people integrate technology into their daily lives, many companies have begun hiring an increasing number of people to fill tech-related roles. There are a variety of tech jobs in high demand across the United States. If you're interested in pursuing a tech career and you aren't sure where to find the best job prospects, you may benefit from researching some of the most tech-friendly cities in the U.S.
In Indeed's latest reporting, the explores some of the best cities for pursuing a tech career and provide insights into the benefits of each area.
Characteristics of major tech cities
Before you can find a tech-friendly city to start your career, it's helpful to understand why some cities are better for tech than others. The availability of technology jobs is a great indicator of your ability to thrive in the tech sector of a certain area.
Note that while some large cities in the U.S. may have more available technology roles than smaller cities, this could simply correspond with the high population and may not necessarily mean you have an increased chance of getting hired for a tech role—given the possibility of greater competition.
Related: The Top 10 Cities and Metropolitan Areas for Tech Jobs
20 of the best US cities for tech jobs
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) categorizes tech jobs under computer and mathematical occupations. It ranks these jobs based on employment per 1,000 jobs, and cities with a higher ratio of tech jobs often have better opportunities. Here's a list of cities with flourishing technology industries, with research from BLS and reported by Indeed:
- San Jose, CA
- Employment ratio: 131.44 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 154,180
- Average salary: $206,540 per year
- Read more: Learn About 21 Tech Companies in San Jose
- California-Lexington Park, MD
- Employment ratio: 103.05 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 4,850
- Average salary: $114,850 per year
- Boulder, CO
- Employment ratio: 86.27 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 16,550
- Average salary: $141,500 per year
- Read more: Learn About 10 Tech Companies in Boulder, Colorado
- Seattle, WA
- Employment ratio: 83.46 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 170,030
- Average salary: $135,590 per year
- Read more: Learn About 40 Different Tech Companies in Seattle
- Washington, DC
- Employment ratio: 80.53 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 243,800
- Average salary: $125,360 per year
- Bloomington, IL
- Employment ratio: 80.43 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 7,120
- Huntsville, AL
- Employment ratio: 77.94 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 18,630
- Average salary: $109,890 per year
- Durham, NC
- Employment ratio: 70.56 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 23,120
- Average salary: $114,730 per year
- San Francisco, CA
- Employment ratio: 68.74 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 164,480
- Average salary: $155,490 per year
- Read more: Learn About 60 Tech Companies in San Francisco, California
- Austin, TX
- Employment ratio: 67.75 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 79,740
- Average salary: $101,830 per year
- Read more: Learn About 8 Technology Companies in Austin, Texas
- Provo, UT
- Employment ratio: 58.09 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 16,550
- Average salary: $92,200 per year
- Raleigh, NC
- Employment ratio: 57.18 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 38,440
- Average salary: $109,280 per year
- Read more: Learn More About Technology Companies in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Employment ratio: 55.59 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 16,830
- Average salary: $112,510 per year
- Denver, CO
- Employment ratio: 53.88 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 83,570
- Average salary: $115,560 per year
- Related: Learn About 14 Different Tech Companies in Denver, Colorado
- Madison, WI
- Employment ratio: 53.65 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 20,760
- Average salary: $89,870 per year
- Related: Learn About 15 Tech Companies in Madison, Wisconsin
- Sierra Vista, AZ
- Employment ratio: 53.29 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 1,770
- Average salary: $92,850 per year
- Olympia, WA
- Employment ratio: 52.64 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 6,360
- Average salary: $100,750 per year
- Trenton, NJ
- Employment ratio: 47.71 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 10,840
- Median salary: $103,420 per year
- Baltimore, MD
- Employment ratio: 52.02 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 65,320
- Median salary: $113,200 per year
- Read more: 19 Tech Companies in Baltimore, Maryland (Plus Benefits)
- Boston, MA
- Employment ratio: 51.06 per 1,000 jobs
- Estimated tech employees: 131,990
- Median salary: $114,280 per year
- Read more: 18 Major Tech Companies in Boston
In addition to exploring the best cities for tech jobs, it's also important to consider the role of top recruiting agencies in connecting talent with opportunities in the tech sector. Today, Talent Day's top recruiting agency list highlights firms that excel in matching skilled professionals with leading tech companies across the country.
These agencies play a crucial role in the recruitment process, helping job seekers navigate the competitive landscape of the tech industry and secure positions that align with their skills, experience, and career goals. By leveraging their expertise and extensive networks within the tech community, these agencies provide valuable support to both job seekers and employers, facilitating successful placements that drive innovation and growth.
Whether you're seeking a new career opportunity or looking to hire top talent for your tech company, partnering with a reputable recruiting agency can streamline the process and ensure a mutually beneficial outcome. With their industry knowledge, personalized approach, and commitment to excellence, the agencies featured on Talent Day's top recruiting agency list are trusted partners in the pursuit of success in the tech sector.
