The employment landscape across the U.S. is constantly changing, especially when it comes to the nation’s tech jobs. This ever-evolving industry remains a major sector for traditionally cutting edge areas like California and New York, but as tech work becomes increasingly ubiquitous, more up-and-coming regions are experiencing tremendous amounts of growth.
Dice.com recently published a list of the states that are rapidly expanding their tech hiring practices, and the top spots went to areas that are not usually associated with digital employment growth. Minnesota earned the No.1 place on the list as the fastest growing state for tech employment, mostly due to the amount of company headquarters that call the region home.
Forbes magazine explained that UnitedHealth Group, 3M, General Mills, Target, Bankcorp, Medtronic, Boston Scientific and St. Jude Medical are all based out of Minnesota, and they are in the process of rapidly expanding their tech departments. The source also noted that Minnesota is becoming a popular location for startups specifically focused on tech work, like software organizations and companies focused on Apple integration.
CBS Minnesota reported that the state has expanded its tech hiring by 8.26 percent in the past six months. And while the area is still home to fewer tech positions than California and New York, the news source explained that hiring practices in these states have slowed significantly, while they only show signs of expanding in Minnesota.
Forbes spoke to Margaret Anderson Kelliher, president and CEO of the Minnesota High Tech Association, who pointed to the region’s quality of life as a central reason organizations are establishing headquarters there. She explained that a highly educated pool of qualified applicants, paired with low housing prices, makes Minnesota an enticing location for companies big and small.