Growth in Tech Job Demand
Demand for tech-focused jobs in the St. Louis area has increased by a modest 1.5% between 2023 and 2024, as reported by TechSTL, the local tech council. In the past year, there were a total of 39,432 tech job openings across 55 tech occupations.
Understanding Job Postings vs. Employment
TechSTL Executive Director Emily Hemingway noted that these job postings provide insight into the demand for specific tech roles, despite employment statistics often lagging. She emphasized, "The trends we’re able to put out in this report are incredibly valuable because they are the emerging trends."
A Positive Shift
This slight increase follows a significant drop in tech job postings from 2022 to 2023, presenting a reason for optimism. St. Louis ranked sixth in the nation for new job listings between November and December last year.
Top Job Categories
The report highlighted that business operations specialists had the most job postings at 4,878, showing a remarkable 122% growth. This broad category includes diverse roles such as project managers, analysts, and marketing managers.
Digital Proficiency is Key
Hemingway pointed out that nearly all jobs require some level of digital proficiency. Cortex President and CEO Sam Fiorello echoed this sentiment, stating, "We’re going to have to all be prepared for a world which requires lifelong learning."
Innovative Talent Pipelines
St. Louis leaders are actively working to establish new pipelines of tech talent beyond traditional university pathways. Initiatives to enhance the number of qualified cybersecurity professionals in the region have also been implemented.
Future Workforce Needs
TechSTL is launching a comprehensive economic research study to determine how to best support the evolving workforce needs, especially in light of advancements in AI and digital literacy. Hemingway concluded, "Every job is becoming a tech job, and that workforce regardless of the industry is now having to really meet that demand."
Comments
Join Our Community
Create an account to share your thoughts, engage with others, and be part of our growing community.