Discussion on:

Five states to watch in growing tech employment

I am actually shocked that neither Missouri nor Kansas were included in your list. Google Fiber will be starting to roll out in September and with the scale of deployment, I would be surprised if there wasn't a business boom in that area. Consider the amount of businesses that want to utilize that bandwidth and how much it will help out media companies for that region. I see Kansas and Missouri showing up everyone on this list for industry growth.

The list is based on what Dice is seeing right now.

The surprise for me would be if certain states appeared on that list: SC, Mississippi, Alabama...

"The deep South"

You're not going far enough south. We're doing fine here in FL. You don't have to live in Miami or Tampa either. Cost of living is low and my morning commute is under 5 minutes. (Yes, that's a "five".) We'll be hiring more folks soon too.

Nick and I's point was that the Deep South is NOT a hot bed of technology jobs.

Besides, Florida isn't part of 'The South'. It's either the seventh New England state or the sixth borough of NYC

There are a lot of technology jobs in NC, VA and, even, Atlanta (GA). In NC, you have Charlotte with its banking industry, the RTP (Raleigh) area with the technology, drug and medical industries, in VA (around the DC area - just as in Maryland). Atlanta is still doing quite decent.

It just depends on what business articles you read. One will say a certain area is in the top 10 of something and a different business article in a competing magazine, paper, etc. will say different areas are in that same business top 10.

I could live in Panama City.

I haven't seen GA with an over abundance of IT jobs. I know some from Ga and they're having a real hard time finding tech jobs in GA. I bet there's 150 applicants for every job posted.

I have seen Ga grow a bit as far as IT work goes, It does seems the Atlanta area is becoming a go to city with the busiest airport, average cost of living(depending on where you live) and many things to do unplugged as well. Even in my city south of Atlanta, there has been a growing need for web developers lately as more companies are looking to do their web presence in-house rather than outsource it.

I would say there is growth in GA of course I have been here (for most of my life I have lived here) and in IT for 19 years and now generally work for myself. I am however interviewing with a company (which is a new technology implementation company) and am on stage 3 hopeful to hear a final by the end of the month.

The thing about GA is much of it has always seemed to be hidden which is strange and I have never understood it. Anyway there is a lot in telecom a lot in networking hardware and software of course a ton in support as well. Alpharetta (Directly North of Atlanta 26.4 miles) specifically seems to have a lot of concentration. Of course they are all over.

For some reason also in GA it always is separated where as say LA and all the little surrounding cities are generally considered and counted as one in population studies. Where as Atlanta always seems to be counted as a city in the middle of nowhere when the attached Suburb's run 50 miles at least from the center of the city.

That's not to mention anyone from North GA on at leas a 50/25 split would say there from Atlanta if someone not local asked where they were from. I know Cobb county where I live has 750,000 residents, I am sure North Fulton has close to if not right on the same, and Dekalb and Gwinette match as well. That is getting off the subject considerably but the thing is companies will say there in Gwinette or Marietta etc and the area is considered Atlanta but not generally counted as Atlanta. The separations statistically messes thing up

I consider myself lucky I ride my Bicycle to work, and for me I think California has many IT positions that need to fell up. I had many offers but my current is only 7 Miles from my home.

Surprised Colorado isn't on there. I deal with a lot of people in Colorado and there seem to be lots of job listings. Popular place to put data centers because of the central location.

There's very, very little in the St. Louis area!!

Companies pay nothing and will hold out for months on fair hourly rates and they come down to something rediculously low. It's shameful, but they get away with it because someone will eventually take the job or consulting gig, because they simply need the work.

The ratio of H1Bs and L1s are also extremely high and seriously contribute to the displacement of American IT professionals in the area.

HR departments play it very smart in this town!

I assume this scenario is played out in many cities across the country, and worse in some cities, and a bit less severe in others, presumably east coast.

What's it like in your local area??
Is it conservative or liberal??
Is there a "good ole boy" network??
What can we do to fight back??

Oregon, especially Portland metro, has a huge need for experienced IT and Engineering folks...however, please acquire a job before you move here, we have enough unemployed people already!