The need to locate where the talent is

To access top technical talent, companies opened offices near universities or in cities known for their high-tech cultures (and often their high costs of living). Others located in areas focused on their industries, such as fashion in New York or finance in London.

The past year has begun to call that assumption into question. Engineers from high-cost, high-density locations like San Francisco and Seattle found that they could work very effectively from other cities and even small towns, and many do not want to return. Companies found that they can access talent well beyond their commuting zones if they are willing to allow remote work.