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The U.S. economy, while struggling with slow growth, is showing signs of recovery. The National Employment Report from ADP released on January 5, 2012 reported 325,000 new jobs in the private sector from November to December 2011. Job growth in tech has led the rally, with dense high technology areas generally outpacing their manufacturing and government centered counterparts, as reported by the Brookings Institution. For skilled technology workers and executives looking for areas where job growth in tech is expected to increase, there are several US cities with established and growing tech industries to support career development.
Seattle-Tacoma
The Seattle-Tacoma region is an established tech center where many technology companies are headquartered, including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Adobe. These big name organizations are consistently hiring for a range of skills and experience levels from entry level to the C-suite. Seattle's reputation as a center for self expression and its mild weather are an added attraction. The city of Seattle is dedicated to ensuring that job growth continues, establishing The Seattle Office of Economic Development to revitalize neighborhoods and improve public safety.
San Jose
The Silicon Valley region, consisting of San Jose and surrounding communities, has an established and growing technology industry. According to CyberCoders, a recruiting firm specializing in executive and technical positions, San Jose experienced a 100% increase in tech positions between 2010 and 2011. San Jose has long been a hotbed of entrepreneurship and is home to Apple, Facebook, and Twitter among others. Its growth is based in established companies and startups as well as relocations: Ford Motor Company recently released an announcement that it would be opening a research lab in Silicon Valley in 2012.
Houston
The 2011 Fortune 500 ranking shows that Houston is the headquarters of 22 Fortune 500 companies; only New York has more. Houston houses numerous tech-heavy industries, including energy, chemical, medical, aerospace, and financial services, supporting CyberCoders' recent finding that Houston job growth in tech increased 149% from 2010 to 2011. Major tech players in the area include the Johnson Space Center, BASF AG, Calpine, Shell Chemical LP, and Quorum Business Solutions.
Chicago
The Illinois Department of Employment Security predicts job growth in tech in Illinois of over 3% through 2018, with 25,918 new openings expected. Chicago's world class financial district includes the Seventh District of the Federal Reserve, several major financial and futures exchanges, and various private commercial headquarters. The Chicago Technology Park, Excelerate Labs, and the Illinois Technology Alliance incubate and encourage job growth in tech. In addition to storied companies IBM and Abbott Laboratories, popular tech start-ups Groupon, Redbox, and GrubHub are all based in Chicago, leading to plentiful job opportunities for skilled designers and developers.
New York
New York is a major world center boasting companies both domestic and foreign in its five boroughs, including 45 of the Fortune 500. New York has a competitive job market with thousands of engineering, development, and executive tech positions open for entering and experienced job seekers. A recent study from Jones Lang LaSalle, a financial and professional services firm, reported that New York's share of venture capital funding was 9 percent over the four quarters leading up to September 2011 , which considered with other factors led Jones Lang LaSalle to place New York on its strongest high-tech industry markets list, along with Silicon Valley and Seattle.

As the economy re-balances, job growth in tech is likely to be at the forefront of the recovery. Become a Job.com member to find local tech positions - new opportunities are posted every day.