With layoffs underway at IBM (NYSE: IBM) and job cuts forthcoming at NetApp (Nasdaq: NTAP), the high-tech job market in North Carolina is taking a hit. Now, some more bad news.

Even as IT firm Alphanumeric prepares to hold a “jobs fair” to fill 100 contract job openings, the overall “help wanted” picture continues to darken.

The daily average of advertised information technology jobs across North Carolina fell for the eighth consecutive month in February.

A “softer” market produced 2,980 openings per day, down 20 from January.

But when compared to 2013 and 2012, the 2014 number is anemic.

According to the latest “IT Job trends” report from the North Carolina Technology Association, the month-to-month decline was a meter one tenth of one percent. 

“Demand for IT professionals has become softer over the past eight month since it peaked in June of last year,” the report says.

However, look at the year-to-year numbers.

In February 2013, the daily IT job opening average was 3,720.

In February 2012, the average stood at 4,930.

In two years, the average has fallen 40 percent.

Some Demand Up – Especially for “Offshore Team Coordinators”

Demand was up in a handful of categories.

The biggest increase came for “offshore team coordinators,” jumping to 220 from 90 a year ago.

Openings also were up 100 for web services and business process designers.

SkillProof, the talent management firm that prepares the day, says the lower number doesn’t necessarily mean less job growth this year. And it adds that national IT job demand ticked up by a tenth of a percent last month.

But for job seekers needing employment right now, this latest report doesn’t pack much good news.

By the Numbers

Here is job opening demand by category with 2013 availability in parenthesis.

  • Total IT Job Market 2980 (3720)
  • Systems Eng./Support 760 (920)
  • IT Management 670 (630)
  • IT Architects/Consultants 450 (830)
  • Software Development 430 (550)
  • IT Sales and Marketing 170 (220)
  • Hardware Engineering 170 (290)
  • Business/Process Design 160 (60)
  • Systems Administration 80 (130)
  • Training/Tech Writing 40 (30)
  • Misc.IT Job Categories 60 (60)

Top 15 Needed Specific Skills

The jobs availability numbers by skill in February with 2013 in parenthesis:

  • Java 500 (520)
  • SQL 430 (590)
  • Business Analysis 380 (460)
  • Linux 370 (510)
  • Windows OS 340 (560)
  • Oracle DBMS 330 (430)
  • Web Services 300 (200)
  • Unix 280 (480)
  • Large system tech. 250 (360)
  • C++/VC++ 230 (570)
  • Virtualization Tech. 230 (320)
  • Offshore team coord. 220 (90)
  • XML 220 (180)
  • Perl 220 (310)
  • ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) 200 (280)