Are you a fan of lush, green surroundings and rain more than half the year? Seattle topped Forbes‘ list of places where tech jobs are growing. And not just tech jobs, but all of the STEM field — science, technology, engineering and math. Forbes tapped the Praxis Strategy Group to create a system to rank areas of the U.S. where the technology sector has experienced growth to provide a possible look into the future.
The Seattle, Tacoma and Bellevue, Wash., area witnessed 12% tech job growth in the past two years and 7.6% STEM growth. Longer term growth in the area was even more impressive, with Seattle “boasting a remarkable 43% increase in tech employment over the decade and an 18% expansion in STEM jobs,” theForbes report noted. Not only that, but Seattle’s tech sector remained more stable in good times and bad, compared to other regions.
Runners-up include Washington, D.C., Alexandra and Arlington, Va. at number two; the San Diego, Carlsbad, San Marcos area at number three and Salt Lake City at number four. If you’re considering investing in a startup, stay tuned to the action going on in Jacksonville, Fla. (#6) and Nashville, Tenn. (#10), where a boom a tech employment might signal good things ahead.
STEM jobs in cities such as New York City and Los Angeles have fallen to national averages, according to the study. But keep an eye on the technology sector in St. Louis, Chicago and Philadelphia, where large firms have hit losses.
Another thing to consider: Could Facebook’s IPO make operating a business in Silicon Valley even more costly for startups? San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, Calif. came in at #7 on the list. Although the Silicon Valley has the highest percentage of tech jobs in the country, obstacles such as limited space and high cost of living might cause new startups to look elsewhere to build their business.
Do you live in an area not on this list but think it should be? Tell us in the comments.
Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, PikeOnline
This content is provided by:http://mashable.com/2012/05/18/cities-tech-jobs/
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