This shift is largely attributed to a contraction in the San Francisco workforce and an aggressive hiring push for tech and artificial intelligence (AI) specialists by New York’s finance sector.
This transition highlights the growing influence of AI on the broader economy, with specialized roles now accounting for nearly one-third of all tech-talent job listings in the U.S.
While San Francisco still maintains the highest concentration of AI-specific roles, the demand for this expertise is revitalizing commercial real estate in both cities.
Unlike the remote-work trends common in general technology, CBRE notes that AI startups and established firms are fostering an office-centric culture, where being physically present for four to six days a week is considered essential for innovation.
The rapid expansion of AI is altering the labor market by modifying or creating new roles rather than simply reducing headcount, particularly within the financial industry.
Over the past year, AI-related positions in the U.S.
and Canada grew by 45%, adding more than 20,000 specialists in both New York and San Francisco since mid-2025.
This hiring trend has directly boosted office leasing activity, with AI companies accounting for nearly 60% of all new leases in San Francisco during the first half of this year.