Austin Ranks First in STEM Job Growth–Again–RCLCO Finds

(Illustration courtesy of RCLCO)

Austin, Seattle, Denver, San Francisco and Raleigh are the U.S. markets with the strongest outlook for growth in science, technology, engineering and math jobs, per RCLCO, Bethesda, Md.

RCLCO just released its 2024 STEM Job Growth Index, which projects the metropolitan areas with the strongest outlook for growth in STEM jobs. Austin remains in the top spot for the third year in a row and the sixth time in eight years.

Of the fifty largest metros, San Jose has the highest concentration of STEM jobs today, the report said.

Phoenix is the only new entrant to the index’s top 20 this year.

“STEM jobs, driven by a highly educated workforce, are among the highest-paying and most economically impactful roles in any market,” RCLCO Managing Director Gregg Logan said. “The STEMdex offers a straightforward and intuitive tool to help people grasp the employment and housing trends that STEM job growth will bring to these cities in the coming years.”

This year’s list includes three California metros, while Texas and North Carolina each have two cities in the top 20. No other state features more than one city in the 2024 rankings.

“The results remain largely consistent with 2023, with two notable changes: Philadelphia, which ranked twentieth last year, dropped off the list, replaced by Phoenix,” RCLCO said. “Additionally, Minneapolis slipped five spots, while San Diego climbed five places.”

The index’s analysis focuses on metrics in four major areas: STEM Trends/Economic Factors, Workforce Quality, Quality of Life/Health and Business Climate. RCLCO weighted 23 indicators it believes best characterize the four major categories.