New York unseats San Francisco as the top market for tech talent, CBRE reports

The report, titled “Scoring Tech Talent 2026: Which markets have the most Tech Talent specializing in Artificial Intelligence?” ranks cities based on the concentration of workers with AI‑focused skills, and places New York at the top of that list. The ranking generated a wave of coverage across a range of outlets. Deadline’s headline declared New York “the capital of tech jobs, edging out the SF Bay Area for the first time in the annual survey.” The New York Post echoed the finding with a story that New York City “surpasses San Francisco as the biggest tech talent hub, study shows.” The Next Web and Commercial Observer both framed the data as New York overtaking San Francisco on overall tech headcount. The Seattle Times contributed a separate piece that situates Seattle within the broader talent ranking, while SFGATE focused on Alabama’s rising profile.

CBRE’s annual scoring exercise has long been used by firms, policymakers and investors to gauge the distribution of high‑skill tech labor. Historically, the Bay Area has been the benchmark for tech concentration, a status reinforced by decades of venture capital activity and startup formation. The 2026 survey marks the first instance, as highlighted by Deadline, where another city has displaced San Francisco in the top slot, indicating that talent pools are diffusing to other metropolitan centers. The inclusion of AI specialization underscores the sector’s growing importance in shaping labor market hierarchies.

Future reporting is likely to track how New York’s lead evolves in subsequent CBRE releases and whether Alabama’s momentum translates into higher rankings in the next survey cycle. Observers will also watch for updates on Seattle’s relative position, as indicated by The Seattle Times, and for any further commentary from industry analysts on the implications for corporate hiring strategies. Continued attention to the AI‑focused talent metric will provide insight into which regions are attracting the most advanced technical expertise.