Retail and office complexes have a major presence in Framingham's economy. Manufacturing companies also provide local jobs. The city includes three major business districts, the Downtown/South Framingham, the Golden Triangle and West Framingham. The Golden Triangle is one of the largest shopping areas in New England and thus, includes a large number of retail jobs.
The city is home to the world headquarters of TJX and includes facilities for companies and organizations such as IDC, IDG, Breyers, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and Leggat McCall. Staples and Bose have their world headquarters situated in West Framingham. Notable companies with facilities in West Framingham include Capital One, Genzyme, ITT Tech, Computer Associates and the MetroWest Daily News.
The top employment segments in Framingham Massachusetts include healthcare; professional, scientific and technical services; educational services, accommodation and food services; and finance and insurance. The city also includes numerous computer specialists. Approximately 44% of the workforce is comprised of management, professional and related jobs. Sales and office occupations provide about 24% of the jobs in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Occupations more common in Framingham than most other cities include biochemists and biophysicists, computer hardware engineers, electro-mechanical technicians, computer software systems engineers, natural science managers, physical scientists; and electrical and electronic engineering technicians.
The following is a list of Framingham's largest employers:
- The TJX Companies Inc
- Staples, Inc
- Staples International Inc
- Marshalls of MA, Inc
- Bose Corporation
- Perini Corporation
- Town of Framingham
- Massachusetts Department of State Police
- NBC Fifth Realty Corp
- Concord Buying Group, Inc
- Homegoods, Inc
- International Data Corporation
- IDG Communications, Inc
- NBC Fourth Realty Group
- Lifeline Systems, Inc
- Staples Contract & Commercial, Inc
- ASA International Ltd
- GTC Biotherapeutics
Notable information about Framingham, Massachusetts: The cost of living index for the city in 2008 was at 128.5 which is high when compared to the national average of 100. In 2009, the average salary in Framingham was $41,000. About 42% of the residents over the age of 25 have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
Local businesses are invited to work in partnership with helpful organizations such as:
- Metro West Chamber of Commerce
- Framingham Economic Development
- Massachusetts Economic Development Council
- MassEcon: Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development
People interested in learning about the activities of local businesses and industries can read the MetroWest Daily News.