Some states may be better positioned than others to build future-proof workforces for technology-driven industries, from software development and engineering to semiconductors and renewable energy. A new ranking by Altium of all 50 states examines workforce size, job growth, wages, business growth, education and research investment to assess which states are best positioned for the jobs of the future.
Washington Ranks First for Future-Ready Jobs
Washington has the strongest workforce for technology-driven industries, while California ranks 27th despite having the largest number of workers in future-focused occupations.
The analysis evaluated all 50 states across seven measures, including employment and business growth in fields such as software development, engineering, semiconductor technology, automation and renewable energy, along with salaries, science and engineering degrees, and research investment.
Washington earned a score of 79.50, with nearly 6% of its workforce employed in the 30 occupations included in the analysis. Median pay across those occupations was $109,175, and the number of businesses in selected technology industries grew 59.1% over five years.
New Mexico ranked second, driven by 35.2% growth in employment across the selected occupations, the highest rate in the country. The state’s national laboratories and expanding aerospace sector contribute to its science and engineering workforce.
Rhode Island placed fifth, with future-tech industries accounting for 9.1% of private businesses and growing 62.3% over five years. New Hampshire ranked ninth and had the highest share of private businesses in future-tech industries among the top 10 states, at 10.5%.
California Has the Most Future-Focused Workers but Ranks 27th
California employed 703,060 workers across the occupations studied, more than any other state, but placed 27th overall. Although the state performed well in science and engineering education and research and development, only 3.4% of its private businesses operated in the selected future-tech industries. Growth in those businesses was 19.8% over five years, the lowest rate in the country.
The results suggest that having a large technology workforce alone does not guarantee a high ranking. Altium’s index also weighs the concentration and growth of future-tech businesses, employment growth, wages, education and research investment.
The Ranking Measures Jobs and Business Growth
Altium assessed 30 occupations, including software developers, data scientists, information security analysts, electrical engineers, semiconductor processing technicians, solar installers and wind turbine service technicians.
The index assigned the greatest weight to the share of workers in those occupations, at 25%. The share of private businesses in selected future-tech industries accounted for 20%, while employment growth and business growth each contributed 15%. Median salaries and research and development spending accounted for 10% each, with science and engineering degrees making up the remaining 5%.
