In some ways, it’s an increasingly turbulent time in tech. After months of declines, the tech unemployment rate has ticked back up (to 2.2 percent). Meanwhile, the biggest tech companies have laid off thousands of employees since the beginning of the year, and the recent implosion of Silicon Valley Bank has more than a few pundits worried about the health (and funding) of the startup scene.
However, it’s important to note that big tech companies don’t represent the entire tech industry. Across the economy, organizations of all shapes and sizes need tech professionals for a variety of tasks, from building websites to securing tech stacks to exploring next-generation technologies like machine learning. And while folks might be panicking in Silicon Valley, other tech hubs are continuing to hire at a steady pace.
According to CompTIA’s latest Jobs Report, the following tech hubs saw the most job postings in February. Although the total numbers are robust, note the month-over-month declines in many cities:
It’s no surprise that Washington, DC held the top spot—and that its job postings stayed level even as so many other tech hubs experienced declines. Have you seen the amount of money the federal government spends on a quarterly basis? That’s more than enough to ensure a constant stream of tech hiring.
In addition to federal agencies (and federal contractors) needing thousands of tech pros for pretty much every purpose, Washington, DC and the surrounding areas (Northern Virginia and Maryland) have a robust assemblage of startups and mega-companies that need talent. The local pay rate is also pretty good: A 2020 study by management-software firm Carta found that tech professionals around Washington, DC make 97 percent of what their colleagues in San Francisco earn.
However, that doesn’t necessarily make the region immune from a slowdown. For example, Amazon recently announced a pause in construction on its massive HQ2 facility in Northern Virginia. But as long as the federal government keeps spending, Washington, DC will have an appetite for tech professionals, particularly those with lots of experience and specialized skills.
