According to the North Carolina IT Job Trends Report, which is released on a monthly basis by the NC TECH Association, the number of IT job openings across the state dipped in September. 

NC TECH Association is a not-for-profit, membership-driven trade association that champions the technology industry in North Carolina, The data, reported Oct. 8, is from Gartner TalentNeuron. 

“IT job openings in September hovered near historic highs, but dipped slightly in September from August,” said Brooks Raiford, CEO of NC TECH. “However, openings are up significantly over the same period one year ago, with largest year-over-year increases in the Triad, Asheville, and Greenville metro areas,” he added. 

Across North Carolina, there were 39,030 tech jobs in September. 

In the Fayetteville MSA, which encompasses Cumberland, Hoke and Harnett Counties, 1,227 IT jobs were posted in September which was a six percent increase from the number of IT jobs posted in the Fayetteville MSA in September 2020. 

August of this year had 1,265 job postings in the Fayetteville MSA, which was also a six percent increase from last year. 

The tech industry is booming and has been for some time. The 2021 North Carolina State of Technology Industry Report, also known as NC STIR, found that in 2019, the technology industry in North Carolina employed 269,920 people, six percent of the state’s jobs, which would equal about $30.4 billion from the industry. 

Moreover, the report that found that North Carolina’s tech industry accounted for 21.8 percent of North Carolina’s sales revenue in 2019. Although many industries have taken a hit post-pandemic, as technology has evolved, so has the demand for technology companies and employees. 

“In 2019, there were over 21,000 technology establishments operating in North Carolina,” the report said, “an increase of 970 from estimates in the previous report.” 

North Carolina’s demand for IT jobs and businesses has led to it being among the top 15 states for % Change in STEM Education Program Completions, Expected Tech Industry Employment Growth and SBIR + STTR Funding. 

North Carolina ranked #7 state in total Tech Industry employment growth, #2 state for Women in the Tech Industry with 35.4% of workforce, losing the number one spot that it has held for the past six years to Maine, and Predicted to be #11 and #12 state with highest tech growth in Tech Industry and Tech Occupations employment. 

The average earning per worker in the tech industry in North Carolina is $120,500, leading the state to rank fifth for Median Salary Earnings for Tech Occupations.