Networking among tech roles forecast for growth in 2024

Long-term projections for job growth in the tech workforce are positive, according to CompTIA, which estimates that over the next 10 years, tech occupation employment will increase at about twice the rate of overall employment in the U.S.

Some occupations will see more growth than others, says CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the IT industry and workforce. For instance, roles for data science and data analyst, cybersecurity, software development, UI/UX, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence will grow at the fastest rate. And “core infrastructure positions in networking and cloud engineering, along with tech support positions, will continue to serve as the on ramp for many starting a career in technology,” CompTIA reports its newly released State of the Tech Workforce 2024 report.

CompTIA divides the tech workforce into two primary groups: technology professionals working in technical positions such as IT support, network engineering, software development, and data science; and business professionals employed by technology companies, encompassing sales, marketing, finance, HR, operations, and management. About 45% of tech professionals work at technology companies, and the remaining 55% are employed by organizations across every industry sector in the U.S. economy.

CompTIA’s report forecasts that net tech employment will reach 9.9 million workers in 2024, adding 300,000 new workers, which represents a year-over-year gain of 3.1% – more than doubling the 1.2% increase experienced in 2023.

“After periods of overperformance and underperformance, the overarching tech story remains positive,” said Tim Herbert, chief research officer, in a CompTIA statement. “Ensuring a thriving, globally competitive workforce means further committing to developing the country’s base of tech and digital talent through time-tested and alternative pathways.”

Tech occupation employment gains

In the U.S., tech occupation employment reached an estimated 5.8 million workers in 2023, according to CompTIA. That’s projected to increase by 203,125 jobs in 2024, which, on a percent change basis, is 3.5% annual growth rate.

“On a numeric basis, software developers, systems engineers and cybersecurity analysts, network architects, and IT support specialists recorded the largest gains in employment,” the report states.

The leading tech occupations in the U.S. will all experience growth in the coming year. The organization projects the following estimated rates of growth for 2024:

• Software, programmers, web, and QA roles: CompTIA expects a 4.4% increase over the 2,200,449 jobs in 2023.
• IT support specialists and repair technicians: estimated 2.2% increase over the 809,967 roles in 2023.
• Cybersecurity and systems engineers: estimated 3.4% increase over the 699,534 positions from last year.
• Network, cloud engineers, architects, and administrators: estimated 2.2% increase over 675,992 jobs in 2023.
• Emerging technologies and IT project management roles: estimated 2.9% increase over the 452,715 jobs in 2023.
• Database, data science, analytics, and computer science roles: estimated 4.3% increase over the 352,963 jobs in 2023.