Democratization of Tech Continues

A recent Glassdoor study shows the accelerating democractization of tech. In this case, through the demand for software related jobs both outside Silicon Valley, and more importantly, outside of the tech industry. That is, tech is applicable and being applied everywhere. But not as a competitive advantage - it is now a simple, bottom line requirement. Everyone needs it. Everyone has it.

A decade ago, working in a tech job like data scientist or software engineer usually meant working in a “tech” company. That’s no longer the case. Today, every industry is trying to transform itself into a tech industry in some measure, using software, automation, mobile apps, and big data to automate, make smarter decisions, and drive value to customers.

This year, we saw a growing number of employers in finance, retail, manufacturing, and other traditional industries ramp up hiring for tech roles.

First, non-tech employers have sharply ramped up tech hiring compared to five years ago, with the biggest gains in retail, banking and finance, and manufacturing. Second is that a growing share of tech hiring today is happening far from Silicon Valley.

Instead, employers are increasingly hiring these roles in smaller more affordable tech clusters like Seattle, Austin, Detroit, Dallas, and Raleigh. What’s driving these trends? In retail, tech hiring is being fueled by booming e-commerce and the growth of online retailers like Amazon. In finance, growing use of mobile banking apps, online payments, and electronic trading are driving demand for tech talent. And, in manufacturing, employers are hiring tech roles to help build leaner, more automated, and more quality-focused production lines.