Employer demand for tech talent reaches three-year high
New IT job postings increased 16% year-over-year in September. The total number of active job postings reached its highest level in over three years.
Employer demand for technology talent strengthened significantly in September, with growth across a wide range of occupations, industries, and skill areas. According to CompTIA's analysis, employers posted 272,040 new IT job openings during the month. The total number of active job postings climbed to 625,633, marking the highest figure in over three years.
New IT job postings saw a 16% increase in September compared to the same period last year, while active postings rose by 22.4%. This indicates sustained employer demand for workers with IT skills. Seth Robinson, vice president of research at CompTIA, noted that even amidst general hiring caution, demand for core IT skills crucial for digital transformation and AI adoption remains robust.
Software developers and engineers were the most sought-after tech professionals in September, with 47,598 new openings posted. System engineers, tech support specialists, data analysts, and DevOps engineers followed. Demand for AI-related skills has surged, with active job postings requiring AI skills increasing by approximately 282% since May 2024.
This heightened demand for tech talent occurs even as employment within the technology sector itself declined by an estimated 10,350 positions in September. Overall tech occupation employment across all industries also fell by approximately 6,000. The unemployment rate for tech workers edged up to 3.3%, remaining below the national rate of 4.2%.