And no, we’re not talking about COVID infections. We’re talking about tech jobs.
According the Mendix Software Developer Drought Index, released last month, the Midwest – not Silicon Valley or the East Coast – is looking at a serious developer drought.
The Mendix Index stated, “Despite COVID-19, states in the US heartland are actively hiring developers. Meanwhile, professionals on the coasts are reassessing work-life opportunities and exploring start-up opportunities outside Silicon Valley and other tech hotspots.”
The states with the biggest gap between supply and demand for software developers include South Dakota, Utah, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
And despite the recent move toward remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mendix Index also found that 92% of job listings still list a specific location in the job description.
The study also looked at commute times and average rents in the counties with the biggest talent shortages. The average monthly rent among the top 10 counties was $707, compared to $1,001 for the US overall. Commute time was 22 minutes compared to 28 minutes for the US overall.
So if you’re a developer looking for a great career opportunity, forget Silicon Valley or New York City. Come to Wisconsin. We have a great work environment, and we almost never have hurricanes, earthquakes, or rampant forest fires. Okay, there is the occasional snowflake or two, but that just helps the Packers win.
C’mon up!