Companies Add Artificial Intelligence Expertise with Specialized Jobs and Skills Amid Slower Tech Talent Growth

Overall tech job growth has slowed, but the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) has increased demand for AI-specialty tech talent, according to CBRE’s annual North America Scoring Tech Talent report.

Overall U.S. tech talent employment grew only 1.1% (64,140 jobs) in 2024, far below its peak in 2022 (+7%). Canada had stronger growth (+5.9%) than the U.S., adding 66,600 tech talent jobs overall, primarily in the high-tech industry. The number of computer and information systems managers surged in the U.S. (+9%) and Canada (+16%) due to the widespread adoption of AI, making that job the fastest growing among all tech talent roles across North America. In 2024, computer and information systems managers accounted for 83% of U.S. tech talent job growth.

“The rapid development and adoption of AI is generating economic growth across major tech hubs like the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and Manhattan. These markets are receiving record amounts of venture capital funding and corporate investment in AI initiatives, which often results in hiring and future office demand,” said Colin Yasukochi, executive director of CBRE’s Tech Insights Center. “The AI industry could be the catalyst for another growth cycle among office-using companies, boosting the office market’s recovery.”

Multiple Dynamics Influence Market Rankings

CBRE’s annual Scoring Tech Talent report analyzes 75 North American markets and ranks the top 50 tech markets in the U.S. and Canada. Tech talent refers to highly skilled workers across over 20 technology-oriented occupations, including computer and information systems managers, software developers and hardware engineers, across all industries. The market rankings are determined by a weighted analysis of 13 metrics such as tech talent concentration, tech talent pipeline and research and development investment.

The top five ranked tech talent markets are the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, New York Metro and Austin. Toronto switched places compared with last year’s list. Canada’s Waterloo Region, located outside of Toronto, entered the top 10 for the first time due to strong job growth of computer and information systems managers, software developers and programmers. Besides the Waterloo Region (up 11 spots) the biggest gainers within the top 50 are Edmonton (up 11), Orlando (up 5), Quebec City (up 5), Raleigh-Durham (up 4) and Pittsburgh (up 4).

Top 10 Tech Talent Markets Overall

New York (47,940) and Dallas-Ft. Worth (47,100) added the most tech talent jobs between 2021 and 2024. Among Canadian markets, Toronto maintained the lead in total tech talent and added the most jobs between 2021 and 2024 (42,900). The fastest growing Canadian markets over this time span were Calgary (61%) and Waterloo (58%).

CBRE also analyzed emerging markets in Latin America, where tech talent grew 55% between 2019 and 2024, more than triple the U.S. average. Mexico City remains the top Latin American tech market while Monterrey, Mexico, registered the most tech talent growth (112%).

Real Estate Considerations

The rapid growth of AI-related companies led to a rebound in office leasing activity by the high-tech industry. In the first half of 2025, tech companies accounted for 17% of total U.S. office leasing activity, up from 10% in late 2022.

Total operating costs for tech companies increased in 2024 due to higher average wages, even as many organizations reduced their real estate footprint. The total annual labor and real estate costs for a 500-person tech company occupying 60,000 sq. ft. of office space ranged from $35 million in Edmonton to $87 million in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Demand for AI-related roles contributed to increased tech talent wages, which grew by 3.9% in the U.S. and 5.2% in Canada in 2024. Tech wages can generally cover the cost of living in most of the priciest markets, based on the affordability standard of 30% of income to housing. The ratio of tech wages to apartment rents ranges from 29.3% in Manhattan to 12.9% in San Antonio.

Companies Shift Priorities for Tech Talent

The finance, insurance and real estate industry (FIRE) added the most tech talent jobs in the U.S., while the U.S. high-tech industry reduced its tech talent by 3.1%. Tech companies slowed tech talent hiring from a peak in 2022 and often opted to realign their workforce to pursue AI-related initiatives.

Organizations have already begun to strengthen the AI expertise of their existing workforce and to hire specialized talent. CBRE’s analysis of LinkedIn data found that tech talent workers with AI skills grew more than 50% year-over-year to 517,000 as of mid-2025. Meanwhile, 20% of U.S. tech job postings in June 2025 were AI-related, up from 11% in mid-2022, according to CBRE’s analysis of Lightcast data. In the San Francisco Bay Area, AI-related job postings accounted for 42% of total tech job openings.

AI Tech Talent by Market