Tech Employment Trends in February
According to CompTIA, technology employment in the U.S. labor market saw a growth of 177,000 jobs in February, even as other hiring indicators experienced a decline. Notably, tech sector companies reported a net loss of 11,514 positions, primarily in tech services and manufacturing sectors.
Unemployment Rates
The tech unemployment rate rose to 3.3%, compared to the national average of 4.1%. Despite this, there were nearly 490,000 active job postings for core tech roles, with 211,862 new postings added in February. Year-over-year, new job postings increased by 15%.
Regional Insights
States such as Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee saw significant increases in tech job postings. Major metropolitan areas like Washington, Baltimore, and Nashville also reported month-over-month growth.
Job Posting Requirements
Interestingly, nearly 50% of tech job postings did not require a four-year degree. Roles with higher percentages of openings without degree requirements included:
- Network support specialists (85%)
- Tech support specialists (71%)
- Computer programmers (57%)
- Network systems administrators (54%)
- Web and UI/UX designers (53%)
AI Job Market Growth
There is a notable upward trend in hiring for artificial intelligence (AI) skills, with active job listings referencing AI skills rising by 116% compared to last year, and dedicated AI roles increasing by 79%.
Federal Employment Context
CompTIA's analysis indicates that the Federal civilian government employed approximately 116,000 IT workers in 2024, excluding military and contractors. This highlights the broad scope of tech employment across various sectors.
For further details, the full CompTIA Tech Jobs Report is available here.
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