And what states are best for high technology? Original stalwarts such as California, home of Silicon Valley, and Massachusetts, home of MIT and Boston’s Route 128, still reign to a great degree. But fast risers include previous technology afterthoughts such as Utah.
Indeed, the portability of digital-tech employment—as long as someone has Wi-Fi and a laptop, many such jobs can be literally anywhere, and can move quickly even en masse—means that a different dynamic is afoot in determining the best states for high tech compared with how to rank the best states for something that requires a large footprint, such as manufacturing, for example.
Because tech employment is so liquid and mobile, states with the highest growth in technology jobs likely also are the “best” places for those jobs. It seems like a tautology, but it’s really only a self-reinforcing phenomenon.
On the other hand, the best states for manufacturing jobs are in part dictated by legacy investments—factories, tooling, workers, infrastructure, even unions—which would dictate a much slower evolution in where plants and facilities can locate even if they wanted to move.
Another factor that often separates fast-growing locales for tech jobs from states that, overall, are good for business, is the fact that the availability of human capital trumps every other consideration for a tech company that wants to grow. And the generation that is providing the surge in digital workers, the millennials, at this point still love to cluster in cities that have high taxes and other markers of an overall poor climate for business, such as Boston, Minneapolis and San Francisco.
Surprisingly, the state of Washington, with companies such as Microsoft, Amazon and T-Mobile making their homes there, did not make the top 10 list for growth.
These states showed the fastest growth in technology jobs in 2015, according to Forbes.
Two interesting phenomena also show up in comparative lists such as Forbes’. First, states that once seemed hopeless economic outposts, such as Nebraska, have become tech-growth standouts precisely because of the ability for tech companies and employment to anchor just about anywhere, even outside of areas with other types of economic critical mass. And, second, much of the growth in technology employment is occurring in modernizing industries such as auto manufacturing, which is why Michigan finished high in Forbes’ list.
Review the entire 2016 Best & Worst States for Business results, including individual state rankings, CEO comments, methodology and more at https://chiefexecutive.net/2016-best-and-worst-states-for-business
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1462313887635{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_media_grid element_width=”12″ gap=”0″ item=”54767″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1462412412814-17e64e37-cd18-5″ include=”54867″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_media_grid element_width=”12″ gap=”0″ item=”54765″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1462551568042-8c93bcb9-ccf2-4″ include=”54958″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_media_grid element_width=”12″ gap=”0″ item=”54765″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1462551644835-05984b90-e5a1-8″ include=”54933″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
0
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
