Where are the tech jobs? In Madison!

This recent Isthmus article caught my attention, especially the headline!

It discusses the economic impact of technology jobs with the millennial population in our city and confirms what I see as a technical recruiter.  As Wisconsin’s economy shifts from a manufacturing base to tech, strong job opportunities are created.

Manufacturing jobs that were once manual are now often highly automated for business efficiency.  In 1979 33% of all jobs were manufacturing based, in 2012 it’s 18%.  The pursuit of education and training that prepares our students for the tech world is critical to meet the growing jobs demand.


With a recruiting background of over 17 years I know that companies struggle to find key technical talent in Madison, Dane County and nationally.  STEM related job growth in Madison was 6.9%, well above larger cities like New York, LA, Chicago and Minneapolis.  Job growth in Madison from 2008-2014 was up 3.6% as compared to a nationwide decline in Chicago and Milwaukee.

Tech salaries are growing as the demand curve shoots upward.  The average Wisconsin tech salary was $68,000 in 2012,  7% higher than the average private sector role.  This data reflects the impact of Epic, Dane County's largest private sector employer.  The success of Epic has led to a robust healthcare IT sector where the job demand continues to grow.   I relocated my business to Madison from Boulder,  a town that defined "tech".  I see the same energy and momentum now in Madison that I saw in Boulder in the 90’s.  Wisconsin is where the tech jobs are now!

For a complete read, here’s the article:  http://m.isthmusparents.com/isthmus/article.php?article=43613