Dive Brief:
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Seattle ranks number one when it comes to the number of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workers in the U.S., according to a study by WalletHub.com. The study, 2017's Best & Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals, compared 100 metro areas in two categories: professional opportunities and STEM-friendly environment.
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Seattle surpassed Silicon Valley for the first time this year. "Seattle currently has the most STEM job openings in the country, at almost 98 per 1,000 residents, and the second-highest STEM employment, at 12% of total employment," said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez.
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STEM jobs will grow 1.7 times faster than non-STEM jobs between now and 2020, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dive Insight:
San Francisco, Boston and Springfield, MA, rounded out the top five markets for STEM professionals, according to WalletHub.com. Jackson, MS ranked last.
Attracting STEM workers is critical to keeping cities competitive and growing. At this rate, Seattle could soon become the new Silicon Valley. A report released in August from Indeed found Seattle is also the best city for software engineers, data analysts and quality analysts to earn a living.
With the tech talent wars reaching a fever pitch, areas that have a lot of openings and large companies will remain more-likely to attract STEM workers.
