Now that more and more workplaces are opting for remote work there’s no more reason to limit where one can look for new hires. Geographical restrictions don’t apply anymore since it’s not required for many employees to turn up to an office every day. 

Lots of talents also decided to move out of major cities now that they do not have to report to a specific place every day. It makes much more sense in terms of living costs and quality of life for a lot of people. So instead of focusing on specific tech hubs, HR personnel should now cast a wider net to find the freshest talents.

Best Places to Hire Top Remote Talent

Where should hiring professionals set their sights in order to find the best new additions to their teams? Here are some of the emerging tech hubs outside New York City, Los Angeles, and Silicon Valley that are worth looking into:

Boise, Idaho

Hailed as the best city for millennials to live in, Boise is an up-and-coming midsize city that’s seeing some major growth over the past few years. A lot of people are moving in for its low cost of living and growing options. Many are also attracted by the fact that it’s surrounded by nature, so lots of exploring can be done during one’s downtime. It has certainly caught the eye of many tech companies, particularly those in robotics, engineering, and online software. 

As a result, a lot of fresh talents are drawn in, many even before the pandemic hit. So companies who are looking into sourcing from a promising pool of individuals, this city would be a great place to check out.

Remote work can also be quite in demand in this city since one of the most popular downsides of living here is their poor public transportation system. By sourcing new talents here, companies could offer a nice win-win situation for potential hires. 

Las Vegas, Nevada

When the city of Las Vegas is mentioned, tech startups won’t be the first thing that will come into mind but not for long. While the city established itself as a gambling haven and the place to go to for a good time, it’s also transforming into a major tech hub. With Google and Amazon moving in, change should certainly be expected in the area.

With industry giants as competitors, other tech players may find themselves intimidated but it shouldn’t be a deterrent. For starters, these companies are the ones who drew in the pool of amazing talents that are practically ripe for the picking. While lots of them will set their sights on these major firms, smaller agencies and startups can still be attractive to a portion of them as long as their offerings are competitive, challenging, and exciting.

Sparks and Reno, Nevada

The cities of Sparks and Reno are among the many midsize cities that grew significantly in recent years, drawing in young blood. It may have a lot to do with large companies like Tesla, Apple, Patagonia, Microsoft, Intuit, and Switch among many others moving in. It can also be due to the fact that there’s no income tax in Nevada. Some also attribute it to the wide range of things that can be enjoyed in the area.

But aside from these, there are other reasons why employers should set their sights on Reno-Sparks for the best fresh hires. At the top of this list is the fact that it’s rated as a top-educated city. As the home of Tier 1, R1 university, the University of Nevada, Reno, businesses can be sure to find promising talents here. Its journalism, engineering, business, and medical departments are lauded, so targeting their products seems to be prudent. A lot of people also choose to go here to continue their education, providing employers a larger and more substantial pool of talents to tap.

Portland, Oregan

Those who are on the hunt for Silicon Valley and San Francisco vets should direct their attention to Portland, Oregon, and its suburbs. Lots of California ex-pats found themselves drawn to the area for its proximity to nature, efforts on sustainability, and a bustling tech sector.

There’s a lot of tech talent here especially since tech firms like Intel, Autodesk, Zapproved, and Slalom LLC, and many others are based here. It’s gearing up to be the next Silicon Valley with an area dubbed as Silicon Forest so there are lots of opportunities for working in tech in the locale. Lots of other big companies like Nike, US Bank, Wells Fargo, and Boeing call the Metro Portland area home so there’s a very good chance that you’ll find amazing talent here.

Bend, Oregon

Located 3 hours away from Portland is Bend, another burgeoning tech hub that got a lot of Silicon Valley execs’ attention. The place’s natural beauty made it very enticing and its growing tech scene, as well as its affordable housing, helped people make the decision to stay.

Bend can also be a good choice for those looking for new remote workers as a good chunk of the population there is already used to the setup. Even before the pandemic hit, a segment of the transplants is already working from home. Like lots of people who already tried the setup tend to look for similar arrangements in their new jobs, odds can be in favor of companies that are looking for remote workers here. 

Spokane, Washington

Since lots of Silicon Valley companies hauled themselves off to Seattle after finding the former location less savory for one reason or another, Seattle is now meeting the same fate as its predecessor. With the outrageously high cost of living and housing, many are moving out and taking parts of the local tech industry with them towards the other side of the state. Spokane is gearing up to be the next tech hotspot in the Pacific Northwest because of this exodus.

This means that employers now have a nice pool of highly experienced and knowledgeable talents available in the area. Surely, a lot of them will be up for remote work as well, as they may already be enjoying such an arrangement with a Seattle-based company.

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is no stranger to the tech industry being the home of several big names in the trade and related fields. It has been the home of Motorola, Lyft, and Freshly among many others. They also have branches of other business giants like Boeing and Intel.

However, it’s a relatively underrated tech hub until it gained some attention again in recent years. Lots of people are now moving to the Greater Phoenix area from California, drawn in by the lower cost of living, tech career opportunities, competitive wages, and a warmer climate. From those talents who chose to make the trek, a number of excellent remote work candidates would certainly pop up. 

Kansas City, Missouri

As the heart of Silicon Prairie, it can be guaranteed that a lot of promising talents can be found in Kansas City, Missouri. Thanks to Google Fiber choosing KC for their initial rollouts, startups followed to take advantage of the cutting-edge high-speed internet connection. Today, there’s no shortage of tech jobs in the area, making it a hot spot for a lot of professionals in the field.

While this can mean stiffer competition, it can also guarantee a promising selection of candidates.

Omaha, Nebraska

Also, a part of the Silicon Prairie, Omaha is another promising location for tech professionals. This actually tends to come as a surprise to many but Omaha has always been a solid choice for those who want to work in tech. As the home of Fortune 500 companies brands like Union Pacific, Conagra, and Berkshire Hathaway, exciting posts in the field have always been available here. 

In recent years, however, tech firms found the area as a great place to put down roots in so more tech professionals are drawn in. Companies that are looking into hiring remote workers might find their luck here as the pool is very promising.

San Diego, California

The idyllic city of San Diego is another great place for employers who want to hire remote workers to start looking in. As the eighth-most populous city in the country, there are already lots of potential candidates to choose from. Locals will also love to be able to stay in the city with how nice it is there, so opportunities to work in the area or remotely will certainly appeal to the population.

Since San Diego is also a bustling tech hub and has been one for years already, the talents that can be found here are outstanding. 

Nashville, Tennessee

Tech and country music might not be the most popular combination but the landscape in Nashville is transforming into just that. The city is now considered as one of the best small tech markets with its high concentration of millennials who are in the tech industry. Many are drawn in by its affordability and promise of quality living but are convinced to stay by the available career opportunities and charming way of life.

All of these make Nashville locals and transplants worth considering when filling different kinds of spots in a tech firm that’s offering remote work. 

San Antonio, Texas

Austin may be the talk of the town as of late when it comes to up-and-coming tech hubs but in reality, nearby San Antonio is outperforming the major city. Lots of experts are gushing about the potential of this criminally underrated tech hub as it has always held great promise for tech professionals and firms alike.

Because of this, it’s also a great place to look for fresh talent. Their location could have provided them with unique experiences so they can bring something new to the table. 

Want to cast a wider net? There’s a very long list of great places where companies can look for promising talent if they don’t mind the distance. There are so many tech hubs that are growing in size all over the country so options will not run out easily.