Voice of Business Blog

CBRE named Greater Rochester, NY the number ten market for up-and-coming tech talent in the United States and Canada in its recent Scoring Tech Talent 2024 market analysis report. This exciting recognition as one of North America’s Next 25 Markets recognizes our region’s tech employment growth and high density of tech degrees being granted in the Greater Rochester region. Greater Rochester Chamber is proud to play a vital role in developing strong talent pools in our community as the regional lead for talent strategy through the OneROC alliance.

Greater Rochester Chamber’s talent strategy programs aim to recruit, retain, and connect the talent that moves our region forward. With a number of different programs designed to engage different populations, we take a holistic look at how to address talent needs for local employers, strengthen the workforce pipeline, and help provide career opportunities.

• Veterans Connect partners with Fort Drum in Watertown, NY and military installations across the Northeast to bring veterans with valuable skills and federal benefits to the labor market by matching them with career opportunities in the region.
• Greater ROC Relocate helps to facilitate smooth transitions when bringing new talent into the region with a comprehensive relocation guide and additional support services designed to facilitate community integration.
• CLIMB is a 10-month program that connects talented young professionals in the Finger Lakes business community to enhance their leadership skills and develop a strong understanding of the synergies in our regional economy.
• Greater ROC Careers serves as an efficient hub for jobs in the Greater Rochester area with over 400 registered employers and 32,000 job postings for careers across industries and job levels.
• Work Together ROC strengthens the local talent pipeline by connecting businesses with community organizations to address workforce gaps and meet current and future employer needs.
• CampusROC promotes Greater Rochester and its eighteen colleges and universities as a prime destination for students and a desirable place to live and work post-graduation.

Out of all of North America's Next 25 Markets identified by CBRE, Rochester had the most tech talent degree graduates as of 2022, thanks to our region’s world-class universities including Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Rochester, and Monroe Community College. Greater Rochester Chamber’s CampusROC program is actively engaging with students across all eighteen colleges and universities to keep these talented graduates in the region post-graduation. As of January 2024, the program has facilitated over 15,000 in-person connections with students and directly placed more than 50 students in jobs and internships at local companies.

Also on the list of up-and-coming tech talent markets is Buffalo, NY, our partner on the NY SMART I-Corridor Federal Tech Hub. In a collaborative effort between Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Ithaca, Auburn, and Batavia, this federal tech hub recognition will continue to drive our region forward as a hub for technology and innovation globally.

To learn more, please see the Scoring Tech Talent report online here.