RALEIGH – North Carolina’s unemployment data continues to remain stable at 3.4% but the same can’t be said about postings for information technology jobs.

Openings in May fell to just over 16,000 – down some 58% from May 2022 (38%). Postings had increased in April after 10 consecutive months of decline but the drop has resumed.

Information jobs did increase by 200 last month, according to the latest N.C. unemployment report.

However, layoffs at Raleigh-based Pendo (42) and Asheville-based PLI Holdings (51) combined to wipe out half of that gain.

Referring to the latest N.C. employment report, NCSU economist Dr. Mike Walden told WRAL TechWire; “To me, these are more signs the labor market is returning to normal.  The question is, will this normality last?”

NC TECH graphic

Postings fell in each of the state’s major metros with jobs dropping in the Triangle by more than 50%.

Locations:  MAY ‘23 ,MAY ‘22

  • Charlotte / Concord / Gastonia: 6,266, -58%
  • Raleigh: 4,806, -57%
  • Durham / Chapel Hill: 1,810, -53%
  • Fayetteville: 740, -29%
  • Greensboro / High Point: 460, -67%
  • Winston-Salem: 411, -53%
  • Burlington: 187, -58%
  • Wilmington: 171, -66%
  • Asheville: 152, -34%
  • Jacksonville: 88, -45%
  • Greenville: 88, -68%
  • Rocky Mount: 49, -22%

“North Carolina’s economic landscape is experiencing both resilience and challenges in the tech sector. While recent economic statistics reveal a decrease in the rate of tech job openings and unfortunate layoffs, the state remains a dynamic hub for innovation and technology,” said Andrea Fleming, Director, Talent + Workforce Development for NC TECH. “Opportunities are still available for skilled professionals in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and the number of start-ups continues to be strong.”

Demand for IT talent also is spread across a number of different companies, not just tech:

TOP 10 Hirers (Tech Talent)

  • Wells Fargo
  • Fidelity Investments
  • TIAA
  • HCL Technologies
  • Deloitte
  • KPMG
  • Thoughwave Software and Solutions
  • RedSalsa
  • ARK Solutions Inc.
  • First Citizens Bank

Here are the most available jobs by titles:

Senior Software Engineer
Java Developer
Developer
Software Engineer
Project Manager
Data Engineer
Network Engineer
Specialist
Devops Engineer
Systems Administrator

Here are the most in-demand credentials:

Security Clearance
Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Project Management Professional
Secret Security Clearance
Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information
Cisco Certified Network Associate
Cisco Certified Network Professional
Certified Scrum Manager
DoD 8570 Certification
Project Management Institute

Read the latest IT Job Trends here.