News
July 13, 2016Linium Index of High-Tech Hiring Predicts Continued Growth in Capital Region Tech Jobs, Even as Challenges Persist in Filling Them
Majority of employers are optimistic about technology job growth over the next year, though fewer plan new hires this summer and many find it difficult to recruit candidates.
Nearly three of four Capital Region employers expect technology job growth to continue over the next year, but even more say the challenge of finding employees to fill those positions is greater than ever, according to the results of the latest Linium Index of High-Tech Hiring released today.
The Summer 2016 Linium Index included participation from 78 hiring and human resource managers at area companies. Spearheaded by Linium Recruiting, the region’s leading recruiter for technology-based positions, the survey was conducted from June 1 to 24.
The forecast remains strong over the long term, with 74 percent of employers reporting they are either very optimistic or optimistic about high-tech job growth over the next year. However, 77 percent say recruiting and hiring technology professionals is either a significant challenge or challenging – the highest level since the survey was launched in October 2015. The skills gap remains the biggest obstacle, cited by 42 percent of participants, which is twice as many as those citing corporate finances or the overall business climate.
“The optimism that Capital Region employers have for future technology job growth is matched by the challenges they’re finding in hiring professionals to fill those positions,” said Miriam Dushane, Linium Recruiting’s Managing Director for Upstate New York. “Addressing the ongoing skills gap needs to be a top priority if the region’s tech sector is going to fulfill its potential.”
Seasonal influences that yielded slower-than-expected hiring over the spring are also contributing to a reduced hiring forecast over the summer. Exactly half of employers reported adding tech jobs in the second quarter, which was down from 65 percent in the first quarter. Similarly, while 50 percent of employers expect to add tech jobs during the third quarter, that is down slightly from 58 percent in the previous quarter.
For the fourth consecutive quarter, information technology (IT) was cited as the field with the fastest-growing number of opportunities, named by 46 percent of employers. The greatest demand in IT was in development (web/software/applications) at 51 percent, followed by infrastructure (hardware/networking/support) and business intelligence.
Respondents to the Summer 2016 Linium Index were split evenly between those with 100 or fewer employees (51 percent) and those with more than 100 employees (49 percent).
Designed to assist companies in better understanding the technology job market, the Linium Index is also intended to help hiring managers develop strategies to recruit and retain a highly skilled workforce. The next quarterly index will be released in October.
