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Greater Richmond ranks among Top 10 for Tech Talent
July 17, 2024
Business Facilities magazine recognized Greater Richmond among the Best Metros for Tech Talent for the third consecutive year. Greater Richmond continues solidifying its position as a hub for tech talent and a leader in retaining strong professionals as new technology emerges.
Greater Richmond produces and retains talent in various tech industries like cybersecurity, software development, data analytics and now artificial intelligence (AI). The region’s broad tech landscape significantly contributes to Greater Richmond’s extensive talent network and its reputation as a hub for tech talent and technological innovation.
AI jobs surge in Greater Richmond
Building on its reputation as a top destination for tech talent, AI jobs are surging in Greater Richmond. As machine learning dominates as the hottest new trend in technology, the number of AI jobs in Greater Richmond is increasing. According to an analysis by UMD-Linkup, Greater Richmond is among the nation’s top AI hotspots. The rise of these jobs in Richmond underscores its commitment to technological innovation as well as its dedication to a diverse talent pool.
Greater Richmond offers 21.5 new AI jobs per 100,000 residents translating to 279 total AI jobs for just the first quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, the U.S. average is 11.7 AI jobs per 100,000 residents. Greater Richmond’s rapid increase in jobs utilizing AI highlights the region’s adaptability and its pivotal role as a thriving tech hub.
No stranger to innovation, Greater Richmond embraces the opportunity of artificial intelligence proven by the substantial increase from 169 AI jobs posted in 2018 to 634 new listings last year. Greater Richmond is already recognized as having one of the nation’s Hottest Job Markets by the Wall Street Journal. The region’s well-educated and diverse talent pool will continue to blossom with more machine learning jobs.
Major companies in the region including Capital One and CarMax are actively listing several AI jobs. Greater Richmond’s commitment to tech is also evident through organizations such as the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), rvatech/ and AI Ready RVA. VIPC works to support innovation and the creation of employment opportunities in Virginia. Similarly, rvatech/ and AI Ready RVA aim to enhance Greater Richmond’s position as an AI hub through various programs and initiatives.
Booming IT industry
The Commonwealth of Virginia is a leading state for tech talent in part thanks to Greater Richmond’s long history as an IT hub. The surge in AI job postings within the region highlights Greater Richmond’s broad and diverse information technology cluster and solidifies the region’s top ranking for its tech talent. The addition of these AI jobs will also strengthen the region’s position as a hub for innovation and technological advancement.
