Airbnb will build a new tech hub in Atlanta

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pratik661 ◴[18 Feb 21 17:01 UTC] No.26182359[source]▶

I grew up in metro Atlanta and studied at Georgia Tech. The state government subsidizes college education for grads with a certain GPA (HOPE Scholarship). However, I (and most CS grads I knew) left Atlanta for better paying jobs in NYC/Bay Area/Seattle/Austin. I always wondered why the ATL tech scene was 'underdeveloped' compared to comparable sized cities like Seattle and Austin, despite having major research institutions (Georgia Tech and Emory) to anchor it.

This is what I mean by 'underdeveloped':

- Most software dev job postings (as of May 2018) have SPECIFIC tech stack requirements. This to me is a red flag. Most recruiters in 'developed' tech cities assume that software development skills are transferable and that technology stacks/frameworks/languages can be learned.

- The salaries offered were still very low compared to comparable COL locations like Austin

- No major FAANG presence to put upward pressure on local developer wages

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1. the_only_law ◴[18 Feb 21 18:19 UTC] No.26183431[source]▶

>>26182359 #

I grew up in the very outer burbs of the Atlanta metro and have kinda been stuck bouncing around the south ever since.

Currently I’m in Florida and I’ve been similarly confused by how underdeveloped tech feels here. I mean this is one of the biggest states with several metropolitan areas and a large economic base, but frankly most of what I’ve seen as far as tech jobs seems mostly underwhelming.

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2. technick ◴[19 Feb 21 00:51 UTC] No.26188047[source]▶

>>26183431 (TP) #

Miami is going to blow up soon. A lot of talent is leaving Silicon Valley for Miami. The weather is great year around, cheap taxes, less restrictive government and cheaper real estate.

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3. BurritoAlPastor ◴[19 Feb 21 01:08 UTC] No.26188180[source]▶

>>26188047 #

Isn’t Miami going to be underwater in a few decades?

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4. mmcclure ◴[19 Feb 21 02:42 UTC] No.26188939[source]▶

>>26188047 #

This is a common meme, but "a lot of talent is leaving Silicon Valley for Miami" is anecdotal and not backed up by any data I've seen, such as USPS address changes[1]. Other places in California are getting most of the people leaving, with Austin and Portland being the only external metro areas I've seen in the top 20.

Miami isn't even a blip on the "where people are going" radar statistically, but the hype and anecdotes could always make it a reality long-term. I have my doubts, personally.

[1] https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/People-are-leavi...

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5. ◴[19 Feb 21 05:27 UTC] No.26190083{3}[source]▶

>>26188180 #

6. technick ◴[24 Feb 21 15:47 UTC] No.26251137{3}[source]▶

>>26188939 #

USPS address changes are not a fool proof way of tracking migration.

[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/01/26/forget-abo...

[2] https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/tech-flight-w...

[3] https://news.crunchbase.com/news/why-miami-is-the-next-hot-t...

[4] https://www.wired.com/story/miami-mayor-woos-techies-what-do...

[5] https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/miami-mayor-pushes-si...

Further, look at real estate prices for the area. The markers are there, just need to look for it.

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7. mmcclure ◴[03 Mar 21 07:58 UTC] No.26325851{4}[source]▶

>>26251137 #

Sure, USPS may not be infallible, but it's some objective measure of the reality, and arguably the best (or at least one of the better) tools we have for looking at something like this.

The links you provided are 5 opinion pieces that don't even try to quantify anything (seriously, I don't see any actual data points in any of them), with a few of them seeming to just be blatant PR placements by Suarez. That's not a bad move, to be clear, it's really savvy! Just objectively not proof of anything except exactly what you were replying to: hype and anecdotes.

Again, the Miami migration could totally happen and/or be happening! But I haven't seen any data that currently supports that, and until I do I remain skeptical that it's much more than loud Twitter voices and a shrewd Mayor.

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