The Fastest Growing Technology State Might Surprise You

When most people think about technology based jobs, computer programming and related fields they immediately turn their attention towards California’s Silicon Valley region but it turns out other states are actually starting to create more tech jobs.

It might surprise our readers to learn that Michigan is actually leading the increase in tech sector jobs throughout the United States, creating 2,700 positions between 2009 and 2010, an increase of nearly 2% for their overall market. While Michigan still lags far behind California in the number of actual technology positions businesses employ their rate of hiring is the highest in the United States.

Falling in behind Michigan is Washington D.C. and then West Virginia, Utah and South Carolina.

The move to add more tech sector jobs in Michigan has been an important part of the state’s economic prosperity after having fallen on hard times.

According to LiveScience:

The news comes at a time when the United States economy and the technology industry have struggled. In fact, the economy eliminated about 115,800 tech positions last year while the unemployment rate remained stubbornly high.

Michigan was able to add tech sector jobs by not only focusing on software creation but also research & development which is crucial for the sates future successes in technology.

The TechAmerica Foundation points to another big positive of Michigan’s shift towards technology, tech positions earned workers $86,800 annually in 2010, 93% higher than the state’s median private-sector wage of $45,000 per year.

Are you surprised to learn that Michigan of all states is leading the charge in tech sector hiring?