SLC ranks high as tech job hot spot | The Salt Lake Tribune

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In yet another "best-of" list in Forbes, the business publication has named Salt Lake City the fourth-best city in the nation for technology jobs.

Citing such tech companies as Adobe, Electronic Arts and Twitter, the magazine and website stated Salt Lake City has become an attractive tech sector destination for its "lower taxes, more flexible regulatory environment, a well-educated, multilingual workforce and spectacular nearby natural amenities."

The publication also cited the state's reasonable housing prices, claiming that three-quarters of residents can afford a medium-priced house while only 45 percent of those living in San Francisco can.

According to an analysis by the magazine, Salt Lake City had a 31 percent growth in tech employment in the last 10 years and 7.6 percent growth in the last two years.

In the survey, the Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue market was ranked No. 1 while the Washington/Arlington/Alexandria area was second. San Diego/Carlsbad/San Marcos was ranked third, and Baltimore was fifth.

The study measured employment growth in high-tech sectors such as software, data processing and Internet publishing, as well as in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The announcement comes just several days after Provo-based software company, Qualtrics, Inc., announced it received $70 million in venture capital from two California firms that will help create 250 new jobs.

Earlier this month, Forbes also ranked Salt Lake City third best big city for jobs after Austin/Round Rock/San Marcos, Texas, and Houston/Sugar Land/Baytown, Texas.

vince@sltrib.com

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