Dell names Des Moines a top 25 'future-ready' economy

How well is Des Moines' economy prepared for the future?

Enough to get it listed next to the likes of Denver, Chicago, Seattle and cities in Silicon Valley, according to Dell.

Dell has put out a list of the nation's top 25 "Future Ready Economies," with Des Moines coming in at No. 20 on the list.

San Jose and San Francisco took the top two spots.

The list is a look at the metropolitan areas across the U.S. that have characteristics that "enable people and organizations to access new tools and new ideas that deliver better connections, better outcomes" and a better world, according to a news release.

Research firm IHS Inc. compiled the report for Dell looking at three pillars for each city's economy: human capital, commerce and infrastructure.

Human capital, Dell and IHS said, looks at whether the people living in each city have the right skills to push forward social and economic change.

Commerce took into account an area's ability to provide "sustainable business opportunities," such as the creation of public-private partnerships.

Infrastructure examined whether each city has a framework "prepared to support people, businesses and technology needed to drive growth and change."

Out of all 25 cities, Des Moines ranked eighth for human capital.

“Based on our research, I am confident that cities identified as Future Ready Economies will grow faster than other cities in the next five years," said James Diffley, senior director of IHS Economics, in a statement.