Tech job postings dipped in the first half of 2023, but talent struggles continue

Technology job postings declined across sectors during the first half of the year, according to new data. The career marketplace analyzed job postings in manufacturing, consulting, finance, education and aerospace/defense. 

Despite the downturn, organizations continued to invest in automation, modernization, cloud capabilities and emerging AI solutions, according to Dice, which analyzed the tech job postings. 

Faced with rising salaries, low unemployment and persistent economic uncertainty, enterprises turned to outside consultants for digital transformation planning and execution, according to Dice execs. 

As growth slowed and big tech shed jobs, even consulting pared back on hiring. IT job posting volume in the sector fell to under 44,000 in June, a 30% year-over-year drop from more than 62,000 last June, the report said. 

But as low unemployment during the first half of the year indicated, there weren’t enough technologists on the market to satisfy enterprise appetite for data science, software engineering, cloud architecture, web design and other digital skills. 

Enthusiasm for generative AI coupled with federal funding for AI research, silicon chip production and onshoring manufacturing fed the demand for technical expertise, according to the report.