Tech talent flocks south as Jacksonville secures spot in top metro areas

Tech talent flocks south as Jacksonville secures spot in top metro areas (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — Technology companies made strides toward innovation and opportunities this year, and as they sought top talent to fill their teams, the Southern U.S. was a choice destination, according to a new study by CommercialCafe.
Jacksonville clocked in at No. 19, alongside four other Florida cities — Orlando (No. 20), Tampa (No. 18), Crestview (No. 17) and Palm Bay (No. 15).
The study ranked 2024’s top 20 southern metro areas with populations of more than 200,000 by factors like technology job density, median earnings and overall quality of life.
Washington, D.C. claimed the No. 1 top spot, followed by Austin, Texas which saw a 25% increase in tech company density between 2019 and 2023, according to the study.
“Moreover, the metro’s tech scene thrives on a diverse range of segments, including AI and green energy (bolstered by the University of Texas), as well as globally recognized events like SXSW,” CommercialCafe wrote.
In the latter half of the study’s rankings, other metros showcased unique strengths. Houston led in tech patent output at No. 9, while Virginia introduced two newcomers — Wilmington with the highest growth in tech company density at No. 13, and Roanoke at No. 16, which saw a 200% increase in tech jobs in the last five years, including adding 2,380 tech positions in 2023, according to the study.
The Sunshine State claimed five spots in the top 20 with metros like Tampa and Jacksonville near the top for tech establishment density growth and employment, respectively.
With a particular eye on the bolstering ability of strong educational institutions — like Georgia Tech, which produces more tech graduates than any other college in the nation — the CommercialCafe called the South’s talent pipeline “stronger than ever.”