With tech unemployment still low nationwide (1.7 percent in April, if you want to be specific), states are scrambling to attract tech companies and talent. With that in mind, which states are enjoying the biggest spikes in demand for technologists?
According to CompTIA’s latest breakdown of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Emsi Burning Glass (which collects and analyzes millions of job postings from across the country), Texas has retained its tech-hiring momentum well into 2022—but other states aren’t slouches, either. Here’s the full chart:
Over the past two years, a number of prominent tech companies have erected either a new headquarters or a major facility in the state, including Oracle, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and Tesla. Texas has several advantages in its competition with other states, including business-favorable taxes, an unending pipeline of fresh talent from local colleges and universities, and robust infrastructure for investment and industry networking.
Maryland came in second on CompTIA’s latest update, outpacing tech-hub stalwarts such as California and New York. This could be a temporary blip, or it could show how the state is benefitting from the explosive tech growth throughout the region, which is driven by a combination of startups, the federal government (and its many contractors), and large tech companies such as Amazon (which is building its expansive HQ2 facility in Virginia).
Other states that aren’t usually associated with tech hubs, such as Oklahoma and New Jersey, also made the list. With companies everywhere scrambling for tech talent, it’s clear that technologists everywhere have opportunities—even if they don’t live near a massive tech hub like New York or California. Specializing in “hot” skills such as machine learning and data science can further boost your chances of getting hired.
