Boston stakes claim as information hub

With exponential growth in IT, smart technology, mobile use and other information-based services, the tech industry has become a highly sought-after destination for many potential employees. While Silicon Valley remains a marquee destination, other cities across the U.S. are emerging as hubs of the information sector.

"The Hub" itself is rising up that list. Boston and Cambridge have positioned themselves as excellent locations for a number of tech startups, given their combination of big-city resources with small-town livability. The best part is - these tech companies are hiring in just about every position.

"Boston is booming with new tech startups popping up everywhere around the city," explained Lindsay Kaplan, Regional Vice President of Beacon Hill Technologies in Boston. "We are excited about the increase in opportunities these additional companies have created and are looking forward to seeing what these companies become in the near future. It's an exciting time to be an IT employee in Boston - your possibilities are endless."

Boston tech scene heats up
There is perhaps no city more ready for the information revolution than Boston. The healthcare and life science industries are already entrenched there - and each has a growing need for IT professionals. Not only that, but increasingly, startups have taken up residency in the area to attract some of the recent graduates of the city's numerous educational institutions.

In the state of Massachusetts, hiring is up 1.8 percent in the past year, according to the Boston Globe. But in the information sector, that increase is up to 8.5 percent. While the usual suspects are in high demand - like programming and coding - there is no one skill that far outpaces the others.

"We've definitely seen the market heat up ... There's demand for everything," Sean McLoughlin, head of a Cambridge hiring company, told the Globe. "Anyone who has the latest-and-greatest experience is going to be in high demand."

Additionally, those sectors have received more funding in the last few years. Massachusetts health care and life sciences companies have enjoyed over $8 billion in venture funding since 2009. Cyber-security - an ever-present need in today's world - gained more than $100 million in 2014 alone. These businesses have a distinct need for new talent and many are willing to take on relatively inexperienced employees, provided they have the necessary skill set.

Tech job seekers have options in Boston
Not only are the jobs there, the salary is competitive, as well. Forbes recently ranked the cities with the highest average salary in the information sector. Boston ranked fourth behind the Silicon Valley, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. - notching an average pay of $97,300, 0.8% higher in the last year.

Given the rate at which industries are moving into the information age, the demand for IT workers is only likely to increase in the coming years.

"Technology professionals have the power to negotiate and also be selective about their opportunities," Shravan Goli, president of Dice.com, explained to Forbes. "I continue to see that being the case. Hiring is only going to increase in the first six months of 2015."

Boston still lags a few cities when it comes to the tech scene, but Beantown might catch those peers yet, reported Gigaom. The Innovation District is a tech startup hotbed in the scenic harbor district. Within a few years, it's possible that Boston can overtake D.C. and Seattle as a prime IT location - in addition to the football advantage New England already enjoys.

This content brought to you by the Marketing Team at Beacon Hill Staffing Group.