San Jose, California - Computer Techies Haven

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Would you like to transfer to San Jose, the third-largest city in the state of California? Why wouldn’t you – San Jose was listed as the second-leading city in the United States because it posts $71,000 in median household income in 2001. The city acts as the hub for real estate and industrial development, and its retail, transportation, and tourism industries are quite robust. San Jose is also renowned for its medical research and treatment activities (some popular inventions developed in the city are transportable baby incubators, gene splicing, and heart transplant technology.)

As far as the Bureau of Labor Statistics is concerned, the city of San Jose is ranked as the fourth leading city in the United States based on numbers of computer science talents that work there. San Jose has 1,420 computer science techies, which accounts for 5.5% of the national population of computer science personnel. Computer programmers will also love the fact that San Jose offers the second-highest average wages among US metros – the techies get $90,880 in average wages. San Jose also pays the highest average computer science compensation of $131,360, which is 60% more than the smallest compensation for that field ($52,930) meted out by Lexington, KY.

The unemployment rate for San Jose stood at 4.7% as of January 2007, slightly higher than the country’s average unemployment rate of 4.5%. At the same time, the city’s job growth rate amounted to just 2.9% (the US average was 1.7%.) San Jose had an unemployment rate of 4.1% in December 2006, which was still lower than the January 2006 mark of 5.0%.

The state of California offers a minimum wage of $8.00 which is much higher than the national rate of $5.15. Unfortunately, many young professionals are opting to relocate to other states because housing prices are soaring in California (including the San Jose region.) In fact, the five most expensive markets for housing are all located within the state, according to the bizjournals.com. California Association of Realtors chief economist Leslie Appleton-Young noted that prospective homeowners are trying to figure out whether the timing now is right for purchasing a home, and if they can fit that expense into their budget.

San Jose’s biggest draw is Silicon Valley, which explains why computer techies are drawn to the city. Job growth for Northern California is highest in San Jose (and San Francisco), a significant improvement from 2001. The rebound of the high tech and information industries is spearheading the region’s expansion, and buffering Northern California from the impact of the residential construction downturn.

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Article Custom Written/compiled for Job Service Help by Mabelle Sese of The Filipino Worker Company. Updated June, 18, 2007