The outlook has never been brighter for technology workers in Nashville, according to a new study from tech job site Dice.com. As reported by Fortune magazine, the research shows Nashville is the nation’s second fastest-growing market for the creation of tech jobs, having added 24 percent more tech jobs between December 2013 and December 2014 over the previous year.
The information technology sector is a major focus of our Chamber’s workforce initiatives. We launched the WorkIT Nashville campaign nearly two years ago with support from community partners to connect regional tech employers with the best talent, both nationally and internationally. The website includes a tech job board, as well as news and resources about the community for those exploring everything Nashville has to offer.
For anyone who’s been paying attention to Nashville’s rapid growth, particularly in the tech sector, the results of this study probably won’t come as a big surprise. 2013-2014 was a record year for job growth in Middle Tennessee across multiple industries, and experts anticipate this momentum to continue in the year ahead. In November, Business Insider named Nashville to its list of the 15 hottest U.S. cities for 2015, based on factors such as job and population growth, affordability, livability, health and well-being of residents.
And, speaking of affordability, Nashville’s low cost of living compared to other large U.S. cities is a major factor helping us attract new residents. For example, San Jose, Calif., is 71.9 percent more expensive to live in than Nashville. To put that into perspective, you’d need to make $85,938 per year in San Jose to maintain the same standard of living as you would by making $50,000 a year in Nashville. That’s a huge difference, and it’s one of the reasons so many tech jobs are moving here in favor of the coasts.
Whether you’re planning to move to Nashville to jumpstart your tech career, or are already living in Middle Tennessee and hope to change jobs, you can make 2015 your best year yet.
