New York City surpasses San Francisco Bay Area in tech talent

New York City has surpassed the San Francisco Bay Area as the largest hub for tech talent in the United States, according to an annual report by real estate firm CBRE. The New York metropolitan area now boasts approximately 394,300 specialized tech workers, representing a growth of over 8% between 2022 and 2025. In contrast, the Bay Area's tech workforce declined by 6% during the same period, falling to 375,730 workers.

This shift is attributed to several factors, including mass layoffs at major Silicon Valley firms such as Meta, Amazon, and Block, alongside a rapid integration of artificial intelligence within New York's established sectors. While the Bay Area remains a primary incubator for foundational AI models, New York has seen significant absorption of talent into the finance, healthcare, and digital media industries.

Artificial intelligence roles are currently a major driver of this movement, accounting for nearly one-third of all tech-talent job listings across the U.S. and Canada. In New York, the proximity to the financial sector has facilitated the rapid deployment of machine learning and automation tools, creating high demand for engineers and analysts.