IT job growth in North Carolina continued in June, which marked the fifth consecutive month showing more IT job openings compared to the previous month.

But the 4,390 IT job postings in June was short compared to the 5,140 postings in June 2012. The latest job figures come from the North Carolina Technology Association’s monthly IT jobs report, which was compiled in partnership with SkillProof and Select Group.

As things currently stand, the IT job market is more closely resembles 2011 labor demand levels.

“Looking back last year’s expansion appears like a bubble which could not be sustained and hence employers now follow a more realistic path,” the report says.

Most of the additional new IT job postings in June came from employers in IT Services and Financial Services/Banking. Defense and High Tech job openings held steady. Categories that saw the strongest increases in job postings included Systems Engineering/Support, up 5.3 percent; and IT Architects/Consultants, up 3.8 percent.

On a national level, IT jobs posted a strong gain, up 7.1 percent for the month. It was the highest one month increase in three years, according to the report.

Here are the June 2013 IT job opening estimates by category with 2012 figures in parenthesis:

  • Systems Eng./Support 990 (1300)
  • IT Management 920 (1040)
  • IT Architects/Consultants 820 (810)
  • Software Development 680 (1070)
  • Hardware Engineering 260 (140)
  • IT Sales and Marketing 220 (230)
  • Business/Process Design 200 (210)
  • Systems Administration 120 (190)
  • Training/Tech Writing 60 (80)
  • Misc.IT Job Categories 120 (60)

Top 15 needed skills, 2012 figures in parenthesis

  • Java 640 (810)
  • SQL 620 (880)
  • Business Analysis 490 (630)
  • Oracle DBMS 460 (640)
  • Windows OS 440 (850)
  • C++/VC++ 430 (620)
  • Large system tech 380 (550)
  • Linux 350 (740)
  • Unix 340 (760)
  • Microsoft SQL Server 280 (430)
  • Perl 280 (490)
  • Offshore team coordination 260 (200)
  • Web Services 240 (350)
  • Virtualization Technology 240 (490)
  • OO (analysis/design/ programming) 220 (320)