Raleigh-Cary ranked fifth in a list of America’s New Tech Hot Spots in a recent study by Forbes.
The Raleigh-Cary metropolitan was ranked above cities such as Vegas-Paradise, Nev. and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mark Schill, vice president for research at Praxis Strategy Group, ranked the top 10 cities after comparing the numbers from the 51 largest metropolitan areas with advances in STEM employment in recent years.
STEM is an acronym referring to science, technology, engineering and math.
Raleigh-Cary displayed a 17.9 percent increase from 2001 to 2012, with a 6.2 percent increase from 2011 to 2012, according to Schill.
Schill conducts demographic and population analysis which appeared in Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Money Magazine and LA Times.
Arnold S. Bell, director of the Career Development Center, said “the convergence of variables” contributed to the rise in STEM employment rates.
Variables, according to Bell, include cities’ capacity for talent, a good local environment and a stable economy. N.C. State, Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill contribute the talent and economic aspects to Raleigh-Cary, while short winters and long summers help make for a good local environment.
Central to the growth of STEM employment are firms located in the Research Triangle Park. Some of these firms are IBM, Cisco and Bayer.
Bell also said startups are popular because the RTP provides an “incubator for young minds.” While large companies are important, according to Bell, startups are essential to a thriving innovative economy.
According to Brian D. Koehler, director of international engagement, Raleigh-Durham International Airport is just as responsible for the growth of STEM employment.
“The legislator had an idea to create [the airport] to complement RTP,” Koehler said.
RDU offers nonstop flights from a variety of international and domestic destinations, which makes it easy for company employees to travel in and out, Koehler said. He sees the change in employment through the growth of the NCSU engineering career fair, which he helps to organize.
“People are relocating to North Carolina,” Koehler said.
When the economy went into the recession in 2007 Koehler said companies had to create short lists for universities to attend. N.C. State made it on the short list.
“This is the most companies we’ve ever had,” Koehler said regarding the increase in companies at the career fairs since the economy started to improve.
Koehler also said he expects to continue getting more companies each year.
