Main image of article Tech Unemployment Rate Stays Steady

The tech unemployment rate remained steady at 2.2 percent in March, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data as analyzed by CompTIA.

Meanwhile, the volume of tech job postings increased month-over-month by 76,546, totaling 316,000. “As a forward-looking indicator the rebound in employer tech job postings is a notable positive,” Tim Herbert, chief research officer, wrote in a note accompanying the data. “While caution is in order given the state of uncertainty, the data suggests segments of employers may be stepping back into the tech talent market.”

Those tech job postings increased in a handful of tech hubs, including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Charlotte. Software developers and engineers helped power that growth, along with IT support specialists, systems engineers and analysts, and more.

No matter what your role or specialization in tech, there are potential opportunities for growth in the months ahead. According to CompTIA’s recent “State of the Tech Workforce” report, the following occupations will generate a significant number of job openings over the next 12 months:

  • Data Scientists and Data Analysts (5.5 percent growth)
  • Cybersecurity Analysts and Engineers (5.2 percent growth)
  • Web Designers and UI/UX (4.7 percent growth)
  • Software Developers and Engineers (4.7 percent growth)
  • Software QA and Testers (4.1 percent growth)
  • CIOs and IT Directors (3.4 percent growth)
  • Systems Analysts and Engineers (2.6 percent growth)
  • IT Support Specialists (2.4 percent growth)

The big question is whether the overall tech unemployment rate will decline over the next several months. The tech unemployment rate rose to 2.2 percent in February, again according to the BLS/CompTIA; that was a notable uptick from 1.5 percent in January. If demand increases, the rate could stabilize or decline again.  

Highly specialized roles can prove even harder for employers to fill. According to HackerEarth’s latest State of the Developer Ecosystem report (drawn from “thousands” of responses from developers, hiring managers, and tech recruiters), recruiters and hiring managers are struggling to find full-stack developers, machine learning and blockchain experts, and data scientists. Focusing on cutting-edge specializations can often translate into opportunities.