November 2024 Jobs Report
Methodology
To present the insights in this report, Dice used job posting data provided by Dice’s partner, Lightcast, which has a database of more than 1 billion current and historical job postings worldwide. Dice pulled data on November 5, 2024 and analyzed over 7 million tech job postings in the U.S. to gather our specific dataset, which we then filtered for “Information Technology” jobs that fall under “Full Time,” “Part Time” and “Flexible Hours.” We gathered the list of top employers in the “Industry Analysis” section by using the above criteria, with an additional filter for job postings that only derive from employer sites. The information in this report is a snapshot of tech job posting data as of November 5, 2024, and backward revisions to prior month’s data may occur from the sources used in this report.
How are Tech Jobs Faring in the Hiring Market?
Tech hiring maintained its positive momentum in November. As companies everywhere plan for 2025, the data contains upbeat signs for the future of the tech sector.
In October, 26% of U.S. tech job postings required AI skills, an impressive 22% month-over-month increase from September and a 156% jump from October 2023. The growing demand for AI skills demonstrates that companies across sectors are increasingly relying on AI to drive innovation and productivity.
The broader tech job market also grew a bit in October, with a 3.2% month-over-month increase in job postings, as well as a 29% year-over-year increase. The tech unemployment rate held steady at 2.6%, notably below the national unemployment rate of 4.1%. The sustained growth in tech job postings and demand for AI talent signals a positive outlook for the sector.
2024 in Review: The State of the Tech Job Market
Brooke Lorenz, Director of Marketing, Dice
Paul Farnsworth, Chief Technical Officer, Dice
Where are Tech Job Postings Concentrated?
Consulting, software, retail, finance/banking, and healthcare were the leading industries hiring tech professionals in October. Industries showing notable month-over-month growth included telecommunications, manufacturing, charity, and healthcare, with telecommunications posting a remarkable 270% increase.
California, Texas, Virginia, New York, and Florida led tech hiring among U.S. states. Maryland showed the highest month-over-month growth, with a 30% increase in October, followed by Virginia, Georgia, Illinois, and New York. Year-over-year, Washington experienced the most growth at 75%, followed by New York (47%), Virginia (41%), Georgia (36%), and North Carolina (32%).
In metro areas, Washington D.C., New York, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Chicago led in tech job postings. Washington and Atlanta saw the highest month-over-month growth with increases of 22% and 20%, respectively. San Jose saw a year-over-year growth of 76%, followed by Seattle (65%), Atlanta (55%), and Boston (55%), underscoring strong demand in major tech hubs.
Who Are Companies Hiring Right Now?
October’s top roles by job posting volume were software engineers, business analysts, systems engineers, data scientists, and electrical engineers. Roles experiencing the highest growth included business intelligence architects, JavaScript engineers, and Salesforce business analysts. This demand aligns with companies’ needs for specialists capable of optimizing data-driven decision-making and implementing complex software solutions.
In-demand skills reflect the industry’s evolving needs and a strong value in soft skills, with communication, management, computer science, problem-solving, and operations frequently mentioned in job postings. Among these, communication and problem-solving are emerging as essential for tech roles, signaling a continued emphasis on well-rounded professionals who can effectively contribute to collaborative and cross-functional projects.