Tech in Texas
Texas tops nation as fastest-growing state for tech jobs
The Lone Star State is making a case for being the next hub for tech jobs.
Texas is adding tech jobs faster than any other state, according to Dice.com. The website, which lists job openings in the tech and engineering fields, recently released a report of the 10 fastest-growing states for technology jobs.
In the first half of 2014, Texas added 8,100 tech jobs (nearly a six percent increase), creating a total of 143,300 tech positions across the state. With such impressive growth, Texas has the second largest technology workforce, falling only behind California, which still leads the nation in tech jobs but did not make the list.
Dice notes that Texas employers are looking to the “future” of tech jobs. In Austin, Dallas and Houston, most job openings are for mobile applications, big data, and software developers. Openings in these fields contributed to Texas' impressive jump from last year’s No. 4 ranking.
So why the sudden — and somewhat surprising — growth of Texas' tech sector? "We think what’s happening is every company is becoming a tech company," a Dice spokesperson told Forbes. "Companies across the U.S. are relying more on technology, and in turn, smaller cities are now these unexpected tech hubs."
Other unexpected states on the list included No. 2, Florida; No. 3, North Carolina; and No. 4, Oregon. Washington, the home of Amazon, ranked No. 5.
