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Nearly 60 percent of tech professionals are extremely happy or very happy with the area where they live, while an additional third of workers are at least somewhat happy, according to a Dice survey of more than 1,600 technology professionals.
One-third of survey respondents said the cost of housing is too expensive where they live, and 41 percent of tech employees said their home is the size they want/need.
However, only 12 percent of tech employees in major tech cities think there’s enough housing available, versus 23 percent of tech employees in non-major tech cities.
In addition, 46 percent of tech employees in major tech cities say housing is too expensive in their area, but only 20 percent of tech employees in non-major tech cities feel the same.
“Tech hubs will need to look for additional housing development if they wish to grow their tech workforce and businesses,” Bob Melk, President of Dice.com, told eWEEK. “This may also provide an opportunity for emerging tech hubs to lure workers to their cities and regions with better access to housing and affordable rents or home prices.”
Nearly half (48 percent) of tech employees in major tech cities say they deal with too much traffic and congestion on their commute, while only 32 percent of tech professionals in non-major tech cities said the same.
Nationally, only 8 percent of tech professionals feel that their city offers enough mass transit options, with only 2 percent saying there are plenty of carpool options.
Melk explained that companies and employers would need to continue to be creative with transportation options, maybe even partnering with cities to create desirable communities that support their workforce.
He said the most surprising finding from the survey was the fact that half of tech workers would leave their job to move to another city, a finding that supports the transient nature of today’s tech workforce.
“The other surprising stat was that most jobs don’t allow a work/life balance,” he noted. “Attrition, which is the highest it’s been since 2002, is going to cost the tech industry more than it can afford.”
The survey also found nearly half (49 percent) of tech employees say they’re fine with the length of their commute and 59 percent of tech employees view local schools excellent or good.
“Millennials and baby boomers represented the top two freelancing demographics according to a recent study, and freelancers have reported an increase in demand for their services in the past year,” Melk said. “As their presence continues to grow in the workforce, Millennials have the ability to help create the next tech hub. Their desire to live in cities that are affordable can drive this growth in emerging tech hubs.”