HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — According to a new analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics by Bloomberg, Huntsville ranks as one of the top cities with the most technical workforce. A workforce which, according to Bloomberg, will power the U.S. economy.
16.7 percent of Huntsville workers have jobs in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM jobs), making it the third most technical workforce in the country. San Jose, California, and Framingham, Massachusetts, are the only two metropolitan areas that rank ahead of Huntsville, making the Rocket City the top tech economy in the South.
Since the number of U.S. manufacturing jobs peaked at 19.6 million in 1979, cities must begin encouraging transition into other work forces. Many Southern cities have attempted such transitions, with Huntsville being a city that has successfully transformed from a manufacturing town to a top thriving technical economy.
Huntsville’s history as a hub for rocket science also contributes to its high numbers of STEM jobs and its success as a tech center. The reputation of Huntsville’s involvement with NASA and other aerospace companies draws the attention of workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As a result, students who are studying these subjects see Huntsville as a desirable place to work.
Earlier this year, North Alabama in general, and Huntsville in particular, was named the best area in the nation for engineers for its plethora of engineering jobs, high average wages for engineers, and low rent prices.
Not to mention, “those companies pay good salaries that end up supporting public schools, restaurants, and a symphony orchestra—amenities that in turn make the city an appealing place,” according to the Bloomberg study.
Huntsville not only hosts opportunities for technical jobs, the metropolitan area also presents a blooming city culture. Huntsville’s high quality of living, low housing costs, and recent downtown development have helped convince STEM workers, including millennials, that the city provides an unlikely, yet impressive place to work, live and impact the U.S. economy.
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