In what is described as a surprise, the number of information technology jobs publicly advertised on a daily basis across North Carolina fell 6.1 percent last month.

So reports the North Carolina Technology Association.

But perhaps saddest of all is this: Job openings remain below those posted in September of 2013 and 2012.

However, job demand spikes in a few categories – especially Java, HTML and offshore coordinators.

With all the good news on the economic development front, led by companies such as Citrix Sharefile continuing to expand in Raleigh and other companies expanding plus startups seeking help as made clear by the recent “Jobs Under the Big Top” refverse job fair, it’s no surprise then that the authors of the NCTA report note:

“IT labor demand dropped in September surprisingly.”

The report, based on data compiled by talent recruitment firm SkillProof, adds:

“While the reason for the change in direction was not clear we had expected a better result. Growth in August compared to July was already negligible.

“The trend in labor demand for IT workers this year is unbroken. Since the market hit a low point in February, the job market has been expanding.”

No longer.

And with possible layoffs coming as Cisco retrenches while Lenovo absorbs IBM’s x86 business, there are certainly no guarantees job demand might dip further this fall.

The daily opening average in September was 3,560.

Sadly, that total is BELOW openings a year ago (3,730) and two years ago (4,110).

Some jobs professionals say there are positions available- companies just aren’t advertising them as much.

Still, the numbers aren’t good.

Here’s a look inside the numbers and where demand – at least in public – exists (or doesn’t):

IT Job Opening Estimates by  Category (average daily job postings)

Category, Sept. 14 Sept. 13 in parenthesis

  • Total IT Job Market 3560 (3730)
  • Systems Eng./Support 860 (900)
  • Software Development 710 (670)
  • IT Management 710 (800)
  • IT Architects/Consultants 440 (500)
  • IT Sales and Marketing 200 (220)
  • Business/Process Design 190 (180)
  • Hardware Engineering 170 (240)
  • Systems Administration 150 (90)
  • Training/Tech Writing 60 (40)
  • Misc.IT Job Categories 70 (90)
     

Top 15 Needed Skills (Job

Openings (average daily job postings), Sept. 14 (Sept. 13 in parenthesis)

  • Java 760 (670)
  • SQL 700 (620)
  • Windows OS 560 (460)
  • Oracle DBMS 470 (430)
  • Business Analysis 420 (520)
  • Unix 380 (390)
  • Large system tech. 380 (430)
  • Linux 370 (360)
  • Web Services 370 (250)
  • C++/VC++ 340 (450)
  • Offshore team coordination 340 (260)
  • JavaScript 310 (130)
  • Perl 260 (380)
  • ITIL 260 (240)
  • HTML 250 (140)