U.S. IT job market sees slight decrease in May
VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES — The IT employment market in the United States experienced a slight decline in May, with a reduction of just 200 jobs month-over-month, according to the latest report from TechServe Alliance. This stagnation follows four consecutive months of modest growth.
Yearly comparison shows mixed results
When viewed on a yearly basis, the IT job market contracted by 0.41%, equating to a loss of 21,900 positions. Despite this, the contraction is gradually narrowing.
In contrast, the engineering sector showed a positive trend, with a 1.51% increase year-over-year, adding 42,200 jobs during the same period.
Mark Roberts, CEO of TechServe Alliance, said that economic uncertainty continues to affect hiring in the sector.
“Although the overall job market posted strong gains, IT employment is still struggling to gain momentum after the extraordinary run-up in the aftermath of Covid. With a multitude of mixed signals from the economy and pervasive uncertainty, including the future direction of the Fed’s interest rate policy, many employers remain cautious in their hiring,” he stated.
Investment in IT initiatives continues
Despite the cautious hiring environment, companies are still investing in essential IT initiatives.
Roberts added, “A counterweight to this caution is the need for companies to continue to invest in IT initiatives such as AI that are essential to maintaining a competitive edge.”
Computer systems, data processing see job growth
The report also provided detailed employment data across various sectors that employ significant numbers of IT and engineering professionals.
For instance, the computer systems and design services sector saw a 1.9% increase in jobs compared to the same month last year, while the data processing, hosting, and related services sector experienced a 2.1% increase.
TechServe Alliance continues to play a crucial role in supporting its members by providing access to industry knowledge and best practices.
The organization serves as the voice of the IT & Engineering staffing and solutions industry before policymakers and the national and trade press.
