Knowledge Worker, Where Are You?

Expansion Management Magazine has just released a new analysis ranking metro labor markets in terms of high-value labor. The ranking is based upon patents, number of colleges and universities, science and engineering workers and R&D spending.

Which metro ranks number one? This will surprise a lot of folks, but it's Detroit, MI. Here is the top te list:

1. Detroit, MI.
2. Oakland, CA.
3. Boston, MA.
4. Houston, TX.
5. San Diego, CA.
6. Washington, DC.
7. Raleigh-Durham, NC.
8. San Jose, CA.
9. Orange County, CA.
10. Dallas, TX.

I think we often think in terms of having a lot of something. That's the quantity game, and in some cases that is what matters. More often though, I find in my consulting work that it is QUALITY that matters. The more important question is: "What are these areas really good at in the knowledge work arena?" In that sense, how would the metro labor markets rank if you assessed them in terms of the quality and importance of patents, higher education institutions, scientists and engineers in high-demand fields, and R&D related to strategically important industries. My guess is that a different ordering would appear.

The Expansion Management listinbg does tend to dispel the rumor that only a few places have scientific and engineering, research and educational resources. This ranking indicates there are lots of places that have lots of stuff.

Download the list in Excel format here.