U.S. IT sector employment recorded its second consecutive month of growth in July, though at a significantly slower pace than in the prior month, an analysis of new Bureau of Labor Statistics data by CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the technology industry, reveals.
The IT sector added 4,000 jobs in July. Through the first seven months of 2016 IT sector employment has increased by 47,100 jobs and stood at 4,392,800 jobs at the end of July
“In light of the employment gains nationally, the modest increase in IT sector employment could be viewed with a degree of disappointment,” said Tim Herbert, senior vice president, research and market intelligence, CompTIA. “Monthly data aside, the over-arching trend for the IT sector remains favorable. As tech companies shift into new categories such as cloud, big data, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, they will seek a range of new skills.”
On the positive side of the July ledger, job gains were reported in computer systems design and IT software and services (up 8,200) and other information services, including search portals (up 1,500).
“Services categories continue to outperform tech segments as the ‘everything-as-a-service’ trend expands its presence with customers of all sizes,” Herbert noted.
July job declines were reported in computer and electronic products manufacturing (down 3,100 jobs), data processing, hosting and related services (down 2,300) and telecommunications (down 300).
The IT workforce includes two components: employment within the IT sector and IT occupations across all other industries. IT occupation employment declined by 88,000 jobs in July, a drop-off of 1.9 percent. For the year IT occupations are down by 46,000 jobs to an estimated 4,438,000.
The monthly IT occupation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics includes workers of all types – full-time, part-time and self-employed – which can result in higher levels of volatility from month-to-month.
For the overall economy in July, total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 255,000; the unemployment rate held steady at 4.9 percent; and the number of unemployed persons was essentially unchanged at 7.8 million.
RELATED: CompTIA: IoT a Good Channel Opportunity
