The tech unemployment rate dipped from 3.5 percent in April to 3.4 percent in May, according to the latest CompTIA analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Meanwhile, the nationwide unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent.
Tariffs, mass layoffs within the tech industry, and other macroeconomic trends have been weighing on tech hiring activity. Within the tech sector, companies only added 1,571 net new employees in May, and tech occupation employment across the broader economy dipped by an estimated 131,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, hiring for dedicated AI jobs held steady in the nation’s largest tech hubs. In San Jose and San Francisco, for example, AI and machine learning positions constituted 17 percent and 13 percent of all job postings, respectively; meanwhile, AI jobs were the focus of 9 percent of New York City’s tech job postings. Seattle (7 percent) and Washington DC (5 percent) are also notable for their AI hiring activity.
Employers also continue to lean on experience and skills as opposed to degrees when hiring for key positions. Some 86 percent of job postings for network support specialists, for example, didn’t require a four-year degree in May, along with 77 percent of tech support specialists, 47 percent of network and systems administrators, 49 percent of web developers, and 55 percent of database administrators. That’s potentially good news to tech professionals who can demonstrate their aptitude for a job, but haven’t necessarily completed the coursework for a BA.
Employers are likewise on the lookout for tech professionals with a few years of experience in their respective industry: for instance, 30 percent of tech job postings in May asked for 4-7 years of experience; some 17 percent asked for 8 years or more, and 20 percent wanted 0-3 years (33 percent didn’t specify an ideal amount of work experience). While this might seem a bit disheartening to those just entering the tech industry, never fear: in many cases, showing a portfolio of work (even school and personal projects) and an aptitude for learning can help you land an interview.
For more nifty data, including breakdowns of the most in-demand remote jobs and top industries for tech hiring, check out the latest iteration of CompTIA’s Jobs Report.
