The 10 unexpected cities where tech workers are flocking

Over the past five years, tech workers have moved from major cities to smaller markets - two of which are in Canada.

• A new CBRE report ranked cities - large and small - with the highest concentrations of tech workers.
• Over the past five years, tech workers have moved from major cities to smaller markets, Axios first reported.
• Nashville, Tennessee and Edmonton, Alberta have seen the greatest percentage increase in tech talent.
• See more stories on Insider's business page.

From Ohio to Canada, tech workers have moved camp to unexpected cities, according to a new analysis by CBRE first reported by Axios.

A combination of factors caused the tech talent exodus from major cities, with the pandemic allowing workers to exchange high living costs for more affordable mid-size cities with larger houses.

Three of the cities with the highest concentrations of tech workers are in Canada, part of the US "brain drain" that took place following the Trump administration's immigration policies.

New York City and San Francisco are still home to the most tech employees but smaller hubs like Nashville, Tennessee have seen the greatest gains.

Read more: Tech workers and engineers are flocking to these 7 rising US cities - and not a single one is on the coasts

Colin Yasukochi, the author of the CBRE report, said tech talent is the primary element driving a city's "innovation infrastructure," which also includes education and research opportunities.

The 10 unexpected cities where tech workers are flocking

1. Columbus, Ohio
2. Calgary, Alberta
3. Orlando, Florida
4. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
5. Sacramento, California
6. Indianapolis, Indiana
7. Cincinnati, Ohio
8. Cleveland, Ohio
9. Nashville, Tennessee
10. Edmonton, Alberta

Cities with the greatest percent change of tech workers over the past five years

1. Edmonton, Alberta
2. Toronto, Ontario
3. Nashville, Tennessee
4. Seattle, Washington
5. Montreal, Quebec
6. Orlando, Florida
7. Indianapolis, Indiana
8. Los Angeles / Orange County
9. Calgary, Alberta
10. San Francisco, California