DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.–CompTIA, the technology training, education, and professional certification organization, announced that employers’ search for technology workers accelerated in May, in the group’s monthly assessment of the information technology industry and workforce.
Technology companies added staff in May, though at a slower pace than recent months, CompTIA’s analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Jobs Report data reveals. The tech sector added 2,181 jobs last month, increasing employment to nearly 5.6 million workers.
New job postings for tech occupations reached 209,000 in May, an increase of nearly 27,000 from April and the highest total since June 2023, according to CompTIA’s “Tech Jobs Report.” In total, there were almost 427,000 active tech job postings last month. The steady ascent of job postings for AI occupations or positions requiring AI skills continued, totaling more than 26,000 and accounting for 12% of all tech openings.
CompTIA’s analysis showed that Michigan was one of seven states with tech job postings growing by more than 1,000 jobs. The others were Texas, California, Illinois, Georgia, New York, and Florida.
Michigan overall was the No. 6 state for increases in tech job postings, with 5,811 job postings, up 1,258 from a month earlier.
Lansing, Mich. led the nation in increases in tech job postings, up 37 percent from a month earlier.
The unemployment rate for tech occupations dropped to 2.5%, well below the national rate of 4%. Technology occupations throughout the economy declined by 42,000, less than 1% of the total base of tech occupation employment of almost 6.4 million.3
“The jump in tech job postings is an encouraging indicator more employers are coming off the sidelines,” said Tim Herbert, chief research officer, CompTIA. “It may reflect pent up demand for the tech talent companies will need to support digital growth initiatives.”
Several tech occupation categories saw double-digit increases in job postings in May, including data scientists (+24%), database administrators (18%), software developers (+17%), web developers (15%), network architects (12%) and tech support specialists (+10%).
CompTIA’s new report also shows that 45% of all active tech job postings in May did not specify that candidates have a four-year degree, signaling that employers are widening their search for tech talent. Some essential tech positions had even higher percentages, such as network support specialists (86%), IT support specialists (72%), network and systems administrators (54%) and programmers (50%).
The CompTIA Tech Jobs Report is available at https://www.comptia.org/content/tech-jobs-report.
