Atlanta Is Considered The Spot For Major Tech Companies Like Microsoft To Find Black Talent

Major tech companies such as Apple, Alphabet, and Microsoft are among the West Coast names that have opened offices in Atlanta, hoping to capitalize on the technology talent in the city, especially Black talent, according to a report by TheGrio.

Over the past five years, Atlanta has seen 15% growth in tech jobs, comparable with other notable tech cities — 16% for the San Francisco Bay Area and 10% for Austin, Texas, this is based on data collated by the CBRE.

There are also a wide range of tech incubators, accelerators and innovation centers in the greater Atlanta area that provide support, mentorship and networking opportunities for start-ups, including the Atlanta Tech Village, Atlanta Tech Park, and Propel, an HBCU tech hub supported by Apple and Atlanta-based power firm Southern Co.

So it seems like a great spot for aspiring techies.

But it is equally a growing hub for major tech companies looking to hire more diverse engineers and tech qualified individuals.

Payments giant Visa is also tapping into the hype and is planning to open a new office in Atlanta later this year, and its chief diversity officer will be based there, with a focus on building connections with various start-ups and workers.

“We know that our customer base at all levels includes the Black community, and we are not shy about wanting the Black community in our workforce,” Visa’s diversity chief, Michelle Gethers-Clark, told CNBC