The Right Place Releases 2026 Tech Report
Coinciding with Tech Week Grand Rapids, the 2026 Tech Report highlights the continued momentum of the region’s 10-year tech strategy, launched in 2022, which aims to make Greater Grand Rapids the Midwest’s leading technology hub. These findings show how Greater Grand Rapids is strengthening its reputation as a rising tech hub, driven by job creation, ecosystem innovation, and growing venture capital activity.
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A Few Key Highlights: |
| Tech Job Postings and Salaries on the Rise Job postings in the tech sector show positive signs for continued employment growth throughout the region, with the number of tech job postings growing 25 percent from 2025 to 2026. At the same time, the median advertised salaries for these postings increased 8 percent from $95,100 to $102,800. Venture Capital Momentum Continues with Larger Investments Venture capital is experiencing its most active year since 2023, having invested $101 million in the first eight months of 2026. Year-to-date venture capital investments have already surpassed those by year-end 2025 figures by 48 percent. Average deal size is also increasing, moving from $2.5 million in 2024 to $3.6 million in 2025 to $7.2 million in 2026. AI-Skills in Demand Since generative AI’s widespread release in 2022, companies across industries are increasingly searching for candidates who possess AI-related skills. Job postings requiring at least one AI-related skill jumped 84 percent from 2025 to 2026. Outlook for Greater Grand Rapids Greater Grand Rapids has created nearly 3,000 tech jobs since the regional tech strategy was launched in 2022. Projections indicate the region will end the year with 38,326 total tech jobs. Among peer and aspirational markets, Greater Grand Rapids ranks 12 in tech job growth and 6th in concentration of tech workers. |
