High-tech job openings drop again; outlook worsens for next year

For job seekers in the information technology sector, the news is getting worse – not better. A new report from the N.C. Technology Association finds that job openings declined again in August and warns that the outlook for hiring is worsening.

As WRALTechWire reported last week in a Robert Half Technology report and as reaffirmed by Friday’s NCTA news, the high-tech job situation is simply not good.

Fewer jobs were advertised in August than July – down 4.8 percent to a daily average of 3,770. The July numbers were down from June, and compared to August 2012, openings are down by nearly 1,000. So says the NCTA report which is based on data gathered by talent management firm SkillProof.

But perhaps most alarming of all in the data is the hiring forecast:

“Since job postings are a leading indicator we believe that payroll will grow slower over the next twelve months.”

Ouch!

“While some of the losses may be blamed on the dog days of summer others may be more systematic,” the report explains. “What we are seeing in general is that overall labor demand in the nation has been lower so far in 2013 compared to 2012.

“This does not just affect IT jobs but all occupations. For the IT job market in North Carolina job seekers should lower their expectations in the near term. We don’t see demand like in 2012 to return soon.”

For jobs available, here are the breakdowns first by category and then by specific skill set”