Austin, D.C., Raleigh Lead STEM Job Growth Index

(Austin, Texas, ranks highest in STEM job growth, RCLCO said.)

RCLCO Real Estate Consulting, Bethesda, Md., announced its annual index measuring strongest metro areas for growth in STEM job growth (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), showing Austin, Texas as the top-ranked market.

The annual STEM Job Growth Index, now in its seventh year, projects which metropolitan areas will have the strongest outlook for growth in STEM jobs. It tracks and projects STEM job growth trends across the country by analyzing the economies of the largest metropolitan areas to understand which regions are attracting the jobs and employees of the future.

The analysis focuses on metrics in four major areas RCLCO finds to be paramount to the growth of STEM jobs: STEM Trends/Economic Factors, Workforce Quality, Quality of Life/Health, and Business Climate. In total, RCLCO identified and weighted 23 different indicators they believe best characterize the four major categories and can quantify their impact on the STEM job market.

Austin returned to the top-ranked spot after placing 2nd and 3rd in the past two year, followed by Washington, D.C., Raleigh, N.C., Denver and Seattle. Philadelphia was the only new entrant to the Top 20. Of the largest 50 MSAs, San Jose has the highest concentration of STEM jobs.

The top-20 cities include:

1.         Austin

2.         Washington, D.C.

3.         Raleigh

4.         Denver

5.         Seattle

6.         San Fransisco

7.         Portland, Ore.

8.         San Jose

9.         Boston

10.       Salt Lake City

11.       Dallas

12.       Minneapolis

13.       New York

14.       Charlotte, N.C.

15.       Atlanta

16.       Baltimore

17.       San Diego

18.       Orlando

19.       Philadelphia

20.       Nashville

The top five most heavily concentrated STEM markets—San Jose, Washington D.C, San Francisco, Austin and Boston—all rank within the top 10 for projected future job growth.

“Because nearly 70% of US GDP is influenced either directly or indirectly by STEM employment, understanding where these jobs exist today and where they may concentrate tomorrow is essential to decision makers and real estate investors alike.” said Gregg Logan, Managing Director of RCLCO.