The question for the Triangle tech scene in 2020: Can it keep up the pace of growth?
Our reporters are writing about what they expect to be some of the big topics on their beats in 2020.
In 2019, the Triangle continued to see a surge in the number of new tech jobs, as homegrown startups grew and companies from expensive metro areas relocated some of their workforce to North Carolina.
Expect that to continue in 2020.
Between August 2018 and July 2019, more than 35,000 information and technology jobs were posted in Raleigh, according to CompTIA, an industry trade group.
And the number of IT jobs here is expected to grow by 9% over the next five years.
Over that same period, more than 17,000 IT Jobs were posed in Durham and Chapel Hill as well, while the expected growth in jobs there was a slower 3%.
But can the area maintain the two things that are driving that growth: talent and cost of living? The latter is often noted as a key draw for the area, with the average rent here $140 less per month than rival Austin, Texas, and $1,739 cheaper than California’s Bay Area.
One question we will follow in the Triangle in the coming year: Can the region keep growing enough talent — both from local universities and people moving here — to fill these openings so that those jobs aren’t posted elsewhere? And what are the consequences of rising cost of living from that success?
Tech leaders here constantly talk about how hard it is to find workers to fill the gaps, especially among software developers. Gov. Roy Cooper notes every chance he can that the No. 1 issue companies have is finding talent.
Increasingly, though, companies and government leaders think some of these holes can be filled by casting a wider net.
By looking at workers from disadvantaged backgrounds, embracing alternative education credentials and building more programs to hire diverse job candidates, the pool of workers can be increased. Just in the past year, the number of companies creating programs for autistic workers, for example, has grown tremendously.
Next year, we hope to look at how to accomplish that — and not just for the benefit of the growing companies in the region. There is a growing concern here that as the Triangle’s economy grows and becomes more dependent on technology-based jobs, a large portion of the population could be left behind, especially people of color.
So, we will continue to ask, who is benefiting from our rising tech economy — and who isn’t?
This story was produced with financial support from a coalition of partners led by Innovate Raleigh as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. Learn more; go to bit.ly/newsinnovate
Zachery Eanes covers technology and innovation. For smart, reliable and timely coverage of the issues you care about, subscribe to The News & Observer at newsobserver.com/subscribe or subscribe to The Herald-Sun at heraldsun.com/subscribe.
This story was originally published December 24, 2019 at 6:00 AM.
