Tech Unemployment Hits 2% in December Amid Increased Hiring

Tech hiring surged in December, bringing the tech unemployment rate down to 2%, the lowest level since November 2023, according to CompTIA, a global leader in IT training and certification. This data, derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) #JobsReport, highlights the dynamic trends in the tech labor market.

Key Highlights

• Tech Unemployment and Employment Trends
  • The tech unemployment rate dropped to 2%, compared to the national unemployment rate of 4.1%, which remained stable.
  • Tech employment across the economy grew by 7,000 positions, bringing the core tech workforce to nearly 6.5 million workers.
  • However, the technology industry sector experienced a decline of 6,117 jobs, largely in PC, semiconductor, and components manufacturing.
• Employer Job Postings
  • Total Postings:
    • December saw 434,415 active job postings for tech roles, including 165,189 newly added positions. Both figures represented a decline from November.
  • In-Demand Roles:
    • High activity in software development, IT project management, cybersecurity, data science, analysis, and tech support.
  • Top Employers Hiring in December:
    • Companies such as Amazon, Accenture, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, GovCIO, Robert Half, Lumen Technologies, and Insight Global led the hiring push.
• Career Level and Education Insights
  • Experience Levels Sought:
    • 22% of postings required 0-3 years of experience.
    • 28% targeted candidates with 4-7 years of experience.
    • 16% sought candidates with 8+ years of experience.
  • Education Requirements:
    • 45% of job postings did not specify a four-year degree requirement.
    • Roles with higher percentages of degree flexibility:
      • Network support specialists (85%).
      • Tech support specialists (72%).
      • Computer programmers (54%).

Statements from CompTIA

• Tim Herbert, Chief Research Officer, CompTIA:
  • Celebrates the milestone of the 100th release of the CompTIA Tech Jobs report.
  • Reflects on the past decade of tracking tech workforce trends in an innovative and dynamic industry.

The December jobs report underscores a healthy demand for tech talent despite mixed employment trends within the industry. Companies are increasingly open to candidates with diverse experience levels and alternative education pathways, emphasizing the evolving nature of the tech workforce.