IT Job Distribution in Atlanta (Marietta, Alpharetta: how much, Home Depot, job market)

[DennyCrane]

I have a question about the IT job market in Atlanta. Specifically, I'd like to know where the jobs are located. (And please don't tell me the job market sucks or that all the jobs have been sent to India. Based on what I've been seeing and hearing, I know that's not true.) In most cities, you tend to find the jobs concentrated in the downtown area. However, what I've noticed about Atlanta in my short time here is that they seem to be more scattered. When I do a search, I find quite a lot in Alpharetta, but most of the jobs show up in Atlanta. Of course, Atlanta can mean anything. Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Vinings, etc. Even stuff just outside the perimeter can be listed under Atlanta. Since most job postings don't specify zip codes, job search engines can't really map their locations.

So I'd like to hear from people who are in the IT market or pretty familiar with it. I'm not just looking for a list of the big employers like HomeDepot, CNN, etc. I already know who they are and where they're located. What I'm after is a better sense of where the job clusters are for IT workers. Alpharetta's a big one, but I'm wondering how much of a difference it would make if I excluded that part of Atlanta.

[grneyedmustang]

There are quite a few IT companies in the Norcross/Technology Park/John's Creek area. Is there an area of concentration you're looking for specifically? That might help narrow your search a bit.

Good luck and hang in there

[BeyondInfinity]

Originally Posted by DennyCrane

I have a question about the IT job market in Atlanta. Specifically, I'd like to know where the jobs are located. (And please don't tell me the job market sucks or that all the jobs have been sent to India. Based on what I've been seeing and hearing, I know that's not true.) In most cities, you tend to find the jobs concentrated in the downtown area. However, what I've noticed about Atlanta in my short time here is that they seem to be more scattered. When I do a search, I find quite a lot in Alpharetta, but most of the jobs show up in Atlanta. Of course, Atlanta can mean anything. Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Vinings, etc. Even stuff just outside the perimeter can be listed under Atlanta. Since most job postings don't specify zip codes, job search engines can't really map their locations.

So I'd like to hear from people who are in the IT market or pretty familiar with it. I'm not just looking for a list of the big employers like HomeDepot, CNN, etc. I already know who they are and where they're located. What I'm after is a better sense of where the job clusters are for IT workers. Alpharetta's a big one, but I'm wondering how much of a difference it would make if I excluded that part of Atlanta.

I would say that Alpharetta is the Tech hub of Atlanta (Alpharetta a magnet for tech companies | Atlanta Business Chronicle).

[SW30303]

IT jobs are definitely scattered, but if I had to take a guess, the highest concentrations are: Alpharetta, Duluth, and Dunwoody areas.

Downtown (ATL), mid-town, Buckhead and Marietta (Cobb County) have notable presence of IT jobs as well, but I think lesser so as compared to parts of North Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

IT skill sets for certain jobs vary tremendously, what type of job are you primarily interested in working?

[lastminutemom]

Follow the cheaper commercial rents and you will find the many of the strictly IT companies. Of course, big companies, law firms, hospitals, universities, etc have IT staffs as well.

[DennyCrane]

Originally Posted by grneyedmustang

Is there an area of concentration you're looking for specifically?

Web development (Java/J2EE).

How is the area around Vinings? I see a lot of office buildings and I know HomeDepot and The Weather Channel are out there.

[rcsteiner]

Well, Home Depot's headquarters (SSC), Travelport (Worldspan), the Weather Channel, SITA, and a number of other companies have a strong IT presence in the Cumberland area.

[DennyCrane]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Well, Home Depot's headquarters (SSC), Travelport (Worldspan), the Weather Channel, SITA, and a number of other companies have a strong IT presence in the Cumberland area.

Thanks. In my original post, I said the following:

I'm not just looking for a list of the big employers like HomeDepot, CNN, etc. I already know who they are and where they're located.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by DennyCrane

Thanks. In my original post, I said the following:

I'm not just looking for a list of the big employers like HomeDepot, CNN, etc. I already know who they are and where they're located.

Yes, and Cumberland is a cluster of many companies. 30339. Your point?

FWIW, I think it's the second largest satellite office area after the perimeter area.

[Vlias]

Healthcare IT is what I know so there are jobs to be had at nearly every healthcare facility - Clayton County area (Southern Regional), Piedmont's IS staff is housed all over but mainly in the Vinings area right across from Home Depot, Wellstar's hiring and they are all over Paulding, Douglas County, Cobb. IBM has an office near Vinings but I know many employees work from home. Depends completely on what you want to do in IT.

There are so many options that in all honestly, one could say that IT jobs are available in every metro-Atlanta county depending on which industry of IT you're looking at. Very broad question...