Atlanta, the capital of the Southeast, has a lot to be proud of. Already boasting the world’s #1 busiest airport, Atlanta is also riding high in national business-related rankings, especially in the tech space.
In this blog post, we take a look at some of the key factors driving Atlanta’s performance as one of the top cities for tech talent.
Tech Square: Atlanta’s Beating Heart of Innovation
2021 was the second consecutive year that Atlanta was recognized as the #1 Metro Tech Hub (Growth Potential) by Business Facilities Magazine.
Tech Square (Technology Square) plays a big part in achieving the accolade.
When it was announced in 2000 that a new innovation hub was to be created in Midtown Atlanta few dared to dream how successful Tech Square would become. Home to the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), the Scheller College of Business, and research institutes including the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) and VentureLab, more than 30 Corporate Innovation Centers including those of Delta Airlines, AT&T, Boeing, and Panasonic, now contribute to the vibrant buzz of the community.
Tech Square also hosts ATDC’s 9,000 square foot industrial-style workspace with two open floors with private offices, meeting rooms, and common areas.
Championing Diversity in Tech
When it comes to diversity in tech, Atlanta shines, recognized this year as being the:
- #2 Metro for Largest Black Tech Workforce (CompTIA)
- #2 Metro for Largest Share of Black Workers in Tech Workforce (CompTIA), and
- #4 Market for Diverse Tech Talent Workforce (CBRE)
Georgia boasts some of the best – and most diverse – talent in the country. Home to top-rated universities including Georga Tech, University of Georgia, and two of the nation’s top five Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Spelman College and Morehouse College, Atlanta’s educational institutions have nurtured one of the most diverse talent pools in the country leading the city to be described by the Harvard Business Review as a “hotbed of talent from traditionally underrepresented communities.”
Inspiring and Educating Next-Gen Talent
To continue to attract and retain next-generation talent, ChooseATL was devised to reach out to young professionals and showcase to them the unique opportunities on offer in the sector. The goal is to demonstrate and convince upcoming local talent that businesses are serious about investing both in the city and in the careers of next-generation leaders
Other state-wide initiatives securing talent for the future include the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, The Georgia FinTech Academy, and partnerships with AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft and Accenture to offer Computer Science and Cloud Computing courses as part of the Georgia Career Pathways Program.
Attracting Startups, Fintechs, and Corporate HQ’s.
With such an impressive array of programs and resources underpinning Atlanta’s innovation and tech future, it’s no surprise to find companies moving to the city to benefit from its hard work. This has led to Atlanta attaining rankings in 2021 including:
- #3 Metro for Startups Ecosystems (Business Facilities),
- #4 Metro for Corporate Headquarters (Business Facilities),
- #4 Metro Fintech Leader (Business Facilities),
- #6 Most Attractive Metro for Gen Zers (CommercialCafe), and
- #8 Market for Tech Talent (CBRE).
Flexible Work Policies as a Retention Tool
As we explored in a previous blog, HR departments are discovering that flexible work policies, including remote and hybrid working policies, are becoming a baseline requirement for the majority of tech workers. Enabling employees to leverage co-working spaces does not only bring productivity benefits but also increases employee satisfaction. Atlanta-based corporations, startups, and entrepreneurs can tap into the deep knowledge and experience of the city’s best tech talent by embracing collaborative practices, such as co-working.
SaGE Workspace offers a plethora of co-working, meeting, and private office spaces in 5 locations in and around Atlanta. For more information, go to www.sageworkspace.com