New York Becomes North America’s Largest Tech Talent Market as AI Office Demand Grows
- ARCFE U.S.
- Aug 27
- 4 min read
New York has reached a new milestone in the competition for technology talent. According to CBRE’s Scoring Tech Talent 2026, the New York Metro tech workforce reached approximately 394,300 in 2025, surpassing the San Francisco Bay Area to become North America’s largest tech talent market by workforce size.
New York added approximately 30,640 tech workers between 2022 and 2025, while the San Francisco Bay Area’s tech workforce declined to 375,730 over the same period. The distinction is important: New York is now the largest market by headcount, although it ranks fourth in CBRE’s overall Tech Talent Score, behind San Francisco, Seattle and Toronto.
Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important part of that growth. CBRE estimates that New York Metro had approximately 67,949 workers specializing in AI-related fields as of June 2026, the second-largest AI talent pool among U.S. markets after the San Francisco Bay Area.
New York also benefits from a more diversified employment base. Commercial Observer reports, citing CBRE data, that only about 34% of New York’s tech talent works directly within the technology industry, while another 21% works in technology roles across finance, insurance and real estate.
That diversification matters for real estate because technology employment is increasingly translating into physical office demand.
According to CBRE, technology companies accounted for 21% of U.S. and Canadian office leasing activity during the first half of 2026, up from 13% in 2023. The calculation covers leases of 10,000 square feet or more across the markets tracked by CBRE.
The trend is particularly visible in Manhattan. Commercial Observer, citing Colliers data, reports that AI companies generated approximately 800,000 square feet of New York office demand in the second quarter of 2026 alone. Manhattan AI-related leasing had already exceeded 1.8 million square feet this year by August, compared with approximately 1.4 million square feet for all of 2025.
Why New York Tech Talent Matters for Real Estate
For real estate investors, the significance of these numbers goes beyond the technology sector itself.
Office demand ultimately comes from businesses that need space and employees who support those businesses. A growing pool of technology and AI talent can help attract companies, support corporate expansion and create additional demand for offices and related urban services.
The impact can also extend beyond offices. Employment growth and business formation can contribute to demand for housing, restaurants, retail and other services. CBRE itself notes that AI-related employment growth may influence multiple commercial real estate sectors, including offices and multifamily housing.
This does not mean technology growth guarantees stronger performance for every New York property. But it does provide an important piece of the city’s broader demand picture.
EB-5 Investor Insight
1. Real estate demand begins with people and businesses.
A property can have an attractive design and location, but long-term demand ultimately depends on whether residents, tenants and businesses want to be there. Employment, industry growth and talent concentration are therefore important market fundamentals to review.
2. Market-level strength and project-level performance are different.
Strong New York employment or leasing data can support the broader market environment, but investors should still evaluate each project’s specific location, competing supply, financing structure and execution plan.
ARCFE discusses this distinction further in Why Location & Market Demand Matter in an EB-5 Investment.
ARCFE View
For ARCFE, this is more meaningful than a single large office lease.
The underlying question in real estate is where sustainable demand comes from. In New York, the continued ability to attract companies, highly skilled workers and capital is an important part of that equation.
The latest technology data are particularly notable because New York’s talent base is not dependent on one industry. Technology professionals are also embedded throughout finance, insurance, real estate and other major sectors, creating a more diversified employment ecosystem.
ARCFE was founded by iCross Capital, a New York City real estate financing institution with nearly 20 years of lending experience. That lender-side background shapes how ARCFE evaluates real estate-backed EB-5 opportunities: we look beyond the property itself to understand who is creating demand, how deep that demand is, and whether the surrounding market can support the project over time.
For EB-5 investors, that is an important distinction. Strong real estate underwriting begins not with a rendering, but with an understanding of the economic activity supporting the underlying asset.
Related ARCFE Resources
Review important travel, residency, tax and immigration considerations after receiving a conditional green card.
Understand how senior debt, mezzanine financing and equity differ in repayment priority and risk exposure.
Learn why employment, infrastructure, competing supply and sustainable market demand should be reviewed together when evaluating a real estate-backed EB-5 project.
Interested in New York Real Estate-Backed EB-5 Opportunities?
Discover Skyline Tower II, ARCFE’s current EB-5 project in Long Island City, Queens.
Complete the form and our team will follow up to discuss your EB-5 planning and current project options.
Sources
Disclaimer: Articles published under the "News" category are curated from third-party media sources for informational purposes only. ARCFE does not claim ownership of the original content, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of ARCFE. Nothing contained herein constitutes investment, legal, or tax advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.
