So, it's tough to argue with the positivity of bringing jobs to a depressed region that sorely needs some uplift. But the article makes no mention of what, if any, tax breaks IBM may have negotiated with the State in exchange for bringing their business there, as well as what, if any, staffing levels need to be maintained and for how many years. I suspect that unfortunately for these folks now employed at the IBM Rocket Center, WV location, that it won't persist too long. . .
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/28/technology/tech-jobs-skills-college-degree.html
(A pertinent excerpt) --
"In Rocket Center, where rocket engines were once built and some composite materials for American fighter jets are manufactured today, IBM occupies a few buildings and employs 350 people, including Mr. Bridges. They are working on cloud computing, cybersecurity, application development and help desks.
In the last two years, nearly a third of IBM’s new hires there and in a few other locations have not had four-year college degrees. IBM has jointly developed curriculums [sic] with the local community college, as well as one-year and two-year courses aligned with the company’s hiring needs.
For companies like IBM, which has 5,000 job openings in the United States, new-collar workers can help it meet its work force needs — and do it inexpensively if those workers are far away from urban centers, where the cost of living and prevailing wages are higher.
'It makes sense for our business, for the job candidates and for the communities,' said Sam Ladah, IBM’s vice president for talent.
The company, which stopped disclosing its American employment in 2007 and regularly cuts jobs in declining businesses, declined to say whether it was increasing its total domestic work force.
But at the West Virginia center, IBM plans to hire up to 250 people this year, including more like Mr. Bridges.
'Now, we’re recruiting for skills,' Mr. Ladah said."