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 July 11, 2025 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 July 11, 2025, 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 showed renewed momentum in June. Tech job postings increased 4.1% month-over-month and rose 4.0% year-over-year, marking a positive shift from recent months. The tech unemployment rate dropped to 2.8%, down from 3.4% in May, representing the first time it's fallen below 3% since January 2025 when it stood at 2.9%. This improvement outpaced the national unemployment rate, which declined slightly to 4.1% from 4.2% in May.
AI skills demand continues its upward trajectory. 38% of U.S. tech job postings now require AI skills, up from 36% in May and a 12% month-over-month increase. Looking at the longer trend, AI skill requirements have surged 111% from June 2024 to June 2025, demonstrating sustained commitment to AI integration across industries.
A Different Story for Young Workers
While the overall tech job market shows signs of recovery, younger workers face a starkly different reality. Young adults aged 20-24 are experiencing significant challenges, with unemployment at 8.2%, up 9% year-over-year and double the national unemployment rate of 4.1%, according to a recent article from HR Brew.
Dice analysis of U.S. tech job posting data reveals why young professionals are struggling. While total tech job postings grew 7% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, entry-level positions (0-2 years of experience) actually declined 3%. In stark contrast, positions for the most experienced professionals (10+ years) surged 17%. This disparity shows employers are prioritizing senior talent over early-career professionals, creating fewer opportunities for those just entering the tech workforce.
This trend particularly impacts tech's talent pipeline. As entry-level positions become scarcer while senior roles expand, younger candidates face an increasingly narrow path into tech careers. The ripple effects could be significant: young people who experience joblessness for six months or more can miss out on as much as $90,000 in lifetime wages, according to Center for American Progress research.
For tech employers, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Investing in younger talent now—through internships, apprenticeships, and entry-level programs—could pay dividends as the market continues to evolve. Companies that create pathways for early-career professionals today will be better positioned to attract and retain talent when the pendulum swings back to a candidate's market.
Where are Tech Job Postings Concentrated?
Industry patterns reveal some shifts in tech hiring priorities. Insurance emerged as the standout growth sector, posting a 26% month-over-month increase. Telecommunications followed with 22% growth, while Software showed a solid 10% gain. However, not all sectors shared in this growth. Finance/Banking declined 32% month-over-month after its surge in May, and Retail dropped 24%.
The year-over-year perspective tells a different story. Telecommunications led all industries with 82% annual growth, followed by Technology at 44% and Manufacturing at 40%. These longer-term trends suggest a fundamental shift in which industries are investing most heavily in tech talent.
Geographic Shifts Signal Market Evolution
Regional hiring patterns show strong growth across multiple tech hubs. New York state led year-over-year growth at 34%, followed by Georgia at 24% and North Carolina at 23%. California, despite its dominant market position, showed a more modest 15% annual growth.
At the metro level, Atlanta topped the list with 29% year-over-year growth, while New York followed at 24%. Notably, traditional tech centers like San Jose (23%), Dallas (18%), and San Francisco (17%) all posted healthy gains, suggesting broad-based recovery across established tech markets.
Who Are Companies Hiring Right Now?
June revealed some surprising hiring trends. Guidewire Developers experienced significant 215% month-over-month growth, likely driven by insurance industry modernization efforts as property and casualty insurers upgrade their core systems. Reliability Engineers and Substation Engineers showed similarly impressive growth at 179% and 172% respectively, reflecting increased focus on infrastructure resilience and the energy sector's digital transformation.
Other roles showing notable growth included Quality Assurance Testers, Oracle Cloud HCM Consultants, Lead Information Security Engineers, and Application Software Engineers, indicating broad demand across various technical specializations.
Skills in Demand Paint Interesting Picture
The most sought-after skills reveal evolving workplace priorities. Team Performance Management led month-over-month growth at 77%, while security-related skills dominated the top five with GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC) and Security Testing both growing 75%. Service Offerings (59%) and Endpoint Detection and Response (58%) round out the list, underscoring the critical importance of cybersecurity capabilities in today's threat landscape.
Year-over-year skill trends show even more dramatic shifts. CPT Coding jumped 570%, followed by Stakeholder Engagement at 234% and Cross-Functional Collaboration at 189%. Multi-Cloud (150%) and Workflow Automation (149%) complete the top five, highlighting how organizations are prioritizing both collaborative soft skills and advanced technical capabilities to drive digital transformation.
Looking Ahead
The combination of declining unemployment, broad geographic growth, and strong demand for both technical and interpersonal skills points to a maturing market that values well-rounded professionals. However, while these trends reflect a more stable and encouraging trajectory, it’s important to recognize that the shift may not yet be fully felt by job seekers, particularly after prolonged periods of uncertainty and cautious hiring in the tech sector.
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