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Hiring for IT Project Managers Still Growing

By Abby Lombardi on May 21, 2013 in Computer/Math/IT.

Project managers are growing in demand in the US, especially in IT departments. IT Project Managers are needed as companies transition to newer, faster networks and upgrade their systems. During April, there were just over 61,000 jobs available online for IT Project Managers, an 8% year-over-year increase in hiring demand. Hiring so far in 2013 has been fairly consistent at just over 61,000 jobs available each month.

Hiring Demand for IT Project Managers – 4 Year Hiring Demand

Hiring Demand for IT Project Managers

Source: WANTED Analytics

Demand for IT Project Managers has remained strong over the past 2 years. In fact, when we look at many of the companies that are currently hiring for this occupation, they are recruiting for hundreds of positions at a time. The top 5 employers each have over 350 unique job ads online currently. This means that they will not only have difficulty competing with other companies to attract talent, but will also compete with themselves to fill all their positions in a timely manner.

With the increased competition for this talent, Recruiters are likely to experience a longer time-to-fill for open positions. On average IT Project Manager job ads remain online for about 6.5 weeks. This doesn't necessarily mean that you will be able to fill a job in 6.5 weeks, just that this is how long you can budget your time and expenses for a job ad. One of the shortest posting periods is in Olympia, WA which averages just 4.4 weeks. In comparison, Hattiesburg, Mississippi currently has one of the longest posting periods at more than 11 weeks. If you are recruiting in one of the darker areas in the map below and need to fill a job quickly, you may want to consider relocating talent. Areas that are lighter in color represent a shorter average posting period and areas you should target in your job ads to find more potential candidates.

Average Posting Periods for IT Project Manager Job Ads in the US

average posting period - IT Project managers

Source: WANTED Analytics

Do you have any tips for Recruiters to reduce the time-to-fill for these positions?

Are you recruiting for IT Project Managers? Sign up for a free trial of WANTED Analytics to see how conditions compare in your area and get profiles of potential candidates that meet your job requirements!

Already an Analytics user? Log in here – the occupation has been selected for you. Add any location or skill requirements for a customized Talent Sourcing Report for your current openings.

Competing for Gaming Talent

By Ashley Rowe on May 19, 2013 in Computer/Math/IT, Hiring Demand Indicators.

Companies have been using gamification techniques to engage customers and they're are also incorporating these strategies into employee and candidate programs through orientation, onboarding, health and wellness, and employee referral campaigns. As gamification evolves and more employers utilize these strategies, will hiring for gamification and video gaming skills continue to grow? When comparing April 2012 to April 2013, demand rose 23%. Over the past 4 years, there was a surge in demand during October and December 2011 for Video Gaming User Specialists.

Hiring Demand for Gamification and Video Gaming Skills

Hiring Demand for Gamification and Video Gaming Skills

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

Most Commonly Advertised Job Titles for Gamification and Video Gaming Skills

  1. Video Gaming User Specialist
  2. Video Games Sales Specialist
  3. Technical Support
  4. Brand Ambassador
  5. Technician Support Video Gaming
  6. Seasonal Military Game Advisor Store
  7. Brand Advocate Microsoft
  8. Technician Support Broadband Gaming Program
  9. Camp Instructor
  10. Video Games Sales Specialist

Most of the job titles above are new to the list since the last time we reported on this topic. The only two jobs that still commonly require gamification and video gaming skills are Video Gaming User Specialist and Video Game Sales Specialists, which both moved up the list. 40% of the job titles listed are tech related. The remaining jobs are in marketing, sales, and educational fields. The educational title of Camp Instructor refers to summer technology programs at college campuses that will teach young people how to create video games.

It is likely to be difficult to hire candidates with gamification or video gaming experience, scoring a 64 on our Hiring Scale. (Our Hiring Scale ranges from 1 – 99, with 99 representing hard-to-fill.) San Francisco, the city with the greatest number of job ads, currently has some of the most difficult recruiting conditions, scoring a 76. Recruiters in San Francisco may potentially reduce hiring difficulty by sourcing talent in a nearby city with more favorable conditions, such as San Jose (CA), which scores a 47 on our Hiring Scale. San Jose presents the second best recruiting conditions next to Utica-Rome (NY), currently scoring a 13.

Hiring Scale for Gamification and Video Gaming Skills in San Francisco (CA)

Hiring Scale for Gamification and Video Gaming Skills in San Francisco

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

Hiring Scale for Gamification and Video Gaming Skills in San Jose (CA)

Hiring Scale for Gamification and Video Gaming Skills in San Jose

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

Are you recruiting for niche technical skills? See how difficult your job req is likely to be with a free trial of WANTED Analytics.

Already an Analytics user? Log in here. We've already added the keywords 'gamification' and 'video gaming' for you. Just add your location and any other requirements. Then, view the hiring difficulty on the Talent Req tab.

Most In-Demand IT Skills

By Ashley Rowe on May 18, 2013 in Computer/Math/IT.

During April 2013, there were more than 818,300 job ads posted online for computer occupations, a 5% increase when compared to April 2012. Last month, we looked at the most in-demand tech certifications. Today, we reviewed skills that are most commonly advertised in IT job ads.

Most In-Demand IT Skills

  1. Structured query language (SQL)
  2. Software development
  3. Java
  4. Project management
  5. Linux
  6. UNIX
  7. JavaScript (JS)
  8. Quality assurance (QA)
  9. Microsoft SQL Server (MS SQL)
  10. Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
  11. Business requirements gathering
  12. Hypertext markup language (HTML)
  13. Extensible markup language (XML)
  14. Application development
  15. Technical support

Employers seem to be placing more emphasis on hard skills for technical occupations as all of the skills listed above are occupationally oriented. Not only are these the most advertised IT skills, but all of the skills listed above also appear among the 50 most advertised skills in all job ads. Of these, structured query language is the most advertised IT skill. This skill is frequently required for Software Developers, Applications, which is the most advertised IT occupation. Programming languages are listed in multiple places among the commonly required IT skills, taking up 5 of the 15 spots above.

Are you searching for candidates with any of these skills? Start a free trial of WANTED Analytics to find sources of potential candidates that match your criteria.

Already an Analytics user? Log in and copy and paste your job req into the Search Wizard. Then view the Candidates tab to see candidates available in WANTED Analytics, Swoop, ZoomInfo, TalentBin and more.

Most Difficult Places to Recruit a Software Developer

By Abby Lombardi on May 14, 2013 in Computer/Math/IT.

In April, there were more than 128,000 jobs for Software Developers being advertised online. This not only represents a 16% year-over-year increase in demand, but also marks a new high in hiring for this position. While demand has grown, the number of qualified potential candidates has not grown at the same pace and, if you've been recruiting for this occupation, you know that these jobs are getting harder to fill. In fact, our Hiring Scale scores Software Developers as a 75, out of a possible 99 (99 represents the most difficult-to-fill situation.)  Also, we are able to see that the average posting period for a Software Developer job ad is about 7 weeks. This doesn't necessarily mean that you will be able to fill a job in 7 weeks, just that this is the time period on average that ads remain online (usually demonstrates the time it takes to collect resumes and being interviewing.)

Hiring Scales for Software Developers in the US

Hiring Scales for Software Developers in the US

Source: WANTED Analytics

So, we wanted to look at some of the cities where Software Developers are likely to be the hardest to fill. If you are hiring in these cities, you may need to prepare innovative recruiting strategies to attract candidates.

10 Metro Areas Where Software Developers Will Be the Most Difficult-to-Fill:

  1. Columbia, MO
  2. Baltimore, MD
  3. Bloomington-Normal, IL
  4. San Francisco, CA
  5. Charleston, SC
  6. Lafayette, LA
  7. Atlanta, GA
  8. Panama City, FL
  9. Peoria, IL
  10. Idaho Falls, ID

Columbia, MO currently has the most difficult conditions in the US for sourcing potential Software Development candidates. This area scores a 94 on our Hiring Scale, the highest score in the US. In addition, these cities are likely to have an average posting period at or above the national average. The longest posting period of these 10 cities is in Charleston, SC. Here, job ads for Software Developers remain online for over 8 weeks.

Hiring Scale for Software Developers in Columbia, MO

Hiring Scale for Software Developers in Columbia, MO

Source: WANTED Analytics

If you are sourcing for open Software Developer jobs in one of these hard-to-fill locations, there are some things you can do to find more candidates. First of all, you can look to other nearby cities that may have lower demand and less strains on the talent pool. For example, if you're in Columbia, MO, look at nearby Jefferson City. The Jefferson City area scores an 18 on our Hiring Scale, with far better conditions than nationally. Also, it's only about 30 miles away, so you can likely find candidates without having to relocate them.

Another way to find more candidates is to expand your job title search. When you are looking for candidates in your ATS or online, don't only look for "Software Engineers" or "Software Developers." Some of the most common job titles don't even have "software" in them. Make sure to look at other titles, such as .NET Developer, Java Developer, Applications Engineer, User Interface Designer, and Release Engineer. These are just some of the most commonly used titles for Software Engineers.

Do you have any other tips for finding candidates for hard-to-fill jobs, like Software Engineers?

Are you recruiting for Software Engineers? Sign up for a free trial of WANTED Analytics to see how conditions compare in your area and get profiles of potential candidates that meet your job requirements!

Already an Analytics user? Log in here – the Software Developer occupation has been selected for you. Add any location or skill requirements for a customized Talent Sourcing Report for your current openings.

Is Washington, DC the Capital of Hiring?

By Abby Lombardi on May 9, 2013 in Computer/Math/IT, Health Care, Occupations.

We often look at hiring demand in Washington, DC to see if the nation's capital follows the same trends as the rest of the country. It's been a long time since we looked at job ads for this metro area and wanted to provide an update. As of March 2013, the unemployment rate in the DC metro is 5.2%, significantly lower than the 7.5% national average. In April, there were about 245,000 jobs available online, representing a modest 1% year-over-year growth in hiring demand.

Hiring Demand in Washington, DC – 4 Year Hiring Trend

Hiring Demand in Washington, DC

Source: WANTED Analytics

The occupational fields that were most in-demand in Washington, DC during April were Network and Computer Systems Administrators, Software Developers, Web Developers, Computer Systems Analysts, and Registered Nurses. 4 of these 5 most in-demand fields were tech related. Across all tech occupations, there were 56,000 jobs in the DC metro area during April. However, this actually represents a 7% decline in demand compared to April of 2012. Below are the 10 most commonly advertised job titles in the DC area. Again, many of these are tech related, although 2 healthcare jobs made the list.

10 Most Commonly Advertised Job Titles in the Washington, DC Metro Area

  1. Project Manager
  2. Java Developer
  3. Software Engineer
  4. Systems Engineer
  5. Network Engineer
  6. Program Manager
  7. Systems Administrator
  8. Manager
  9. Occupational Therapist
  10. Physical Therapist

Between the IT and healthcare fields, it's likely that IT jobs will be more difficult for Recruiters to fill. On our Hiring Scale, IT jobs score an 83 in Washington, DC, which is also higher than the national average. The Hiring Scale ranges from 1 to 99, with 99 being the most difficult conditions. A score of 83 means they will be very difficult-to-fill. Healthcare jobs, in comparison, score a 53. However, this is still higher than the national average for medical and healthcare jobs.

Hiring Scale for Tech Jobs in Washington, DC

Hiring Scale for Tech Jobs in Washington, DC

Source: WANTED Analytics

Hiring Scale for Healthcare Jobs in Washington, DC

Hiring Scale for Healthcare Jobs in Washington, DC

Source: WANTED Analytics

Are you recruiting in Washington, DC? Find out if this talent is in-demand in your city and the best places to find candidates with a free trial of WANTED Analytics!

Already an Analytics user? Log in here – we've already added the location filter. Don't forget to add the specific skills, occupation, or keywords you are looking for to get the most accurate recruiting conditions.

Mobile Technology Jobs Still Reaching New Highs

By Abby Lombardi on April 24, 2013 in Computer/Math/IT.

It seems like every day there are more announcements about new mobile developments. With all the recent news about mobile technology, we wanted to take an updated look at hiring demand for mobile tech talent. In March 2013, there were more than 82,000 jobs available online for computer and IT talent that have mobile skills. This is not only a 22% year-over-year increase from last March, but also marks a new high in demand.

Hiring Demand for Mobile Technology Jobs – 4 Year Hiring Trend

Hiring Demand for Mobile Developers

Source: WANTED Analytics

Below are the 10 technical occupations that had the most job postings during March. Of the below, only Systems Software Developers declined in demand compared to last year. IT Project Managers and Applications Software Developers increased the most, up 47% and 33% respectively.

  1. Software Developers (Applications)
  2. Web Developers
  3. Computer User Support Specialists
  4. Network and Computer Systems Administrators
  5. Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers
  6. Information Technology Project Managers
  7. Computer Systems Analysts
  8. Computer Programmers
  9. Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
  10. Software Developers (Systems Software)

With the growing demand, and considering that tech jobs are generally hard-to-fill, it's probably not surprising that Recruiters are likely to experience challenges when sourcing potential candidates for these positions. Our Hiring Scale scores mobile technology jobs as a 78, out of a possible 99. This means that these jobs are likely to be very difficult-to-fill on average across the US. The below heat map of major metro areas in the US confirms this. There are only a few green locations, which would represents locations that currently represent the best conditions for finding qualified potential candidates.

Hiring Scale Map of US – Difficulty-to-Fill for Mobile Technology Jobs

heat map of mobile tech hiring

Source: WANTED Analytics

The most difficulties are likely to be seen in Columbia (MO), Bloomington-Normal (IL), and Dubuque (IA). These 3 locations all score higher than a 90 on our Hiring Scale. San Francisco, part of the Silicon Valley, is the 4th hardest location, scoring an 88.

Find out how hard-to-fill any mobile job is in your city with a free trial of WANTED Analytics! Sign up and start filling positions faster!

Already an Analytics user? Log in here – we already added the mobile and technology job filters. Add any others specific to your open positions, like location or skills.

Most In-Demand Certifications for Tech Jobs

By Abby Lombardi on April 15, 2013 in Computer/Math/IT.

Tech hiring continues to grow, and there aren't any indications that it will stop. In March, there were 809,000 jobs posted online for programmers and technology professionals. With competition among employers continuing and recruiting becoming more difficult, we wanted to share the 15 licenses and certifications that are most commonly specified in IT job ads.

  1. Project Management Professional (PMP)
  2. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  3. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
  4. Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
  5. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
  6. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)
  7. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
  8. Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)
  9. DoD 8570 Certification
  10. Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
  11. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
  12. ITIL Foundation certification (v3)
  13. Certified Scrum Coach
  14. IBM Rational Unified Process Certification (RUP)
  15. Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)

Various Microsoft certifications appear most often on this list – 4 of the above 15 are Microsoft related. Cisco certifications appear 3 times.  We thought it was interesting that HIPPA certifications made this list. However, when we looked at the ads, the positions are at healthcare companies and involve regulated health tech systems or networks. As health technology grows with things like electronic medical records, IT professionals are being required to build, maintain, and ensure their systems are secure and meet federal guidelines. Do any of the above certifications surprise you?

What certifications do you require in job ads? Do you know how hard-to-fill they are likely to be? Get Talent Sourcing Reports, complete with potential candidate profiles and recruiting conditions, when you start your free trial of WANTED Analytics!

Already a user? Log in and enter the name of the certification/license in the certification search box. Add any other requirements – like location, specific occupation, or skills – for hiring conditions.

Mathematical Science Jobs for Math Awareness Month

By Ashley Rowe on April 6, 2013 in Computer/Math/IT.

Did you know that April is Mathematics Awareness Month? In honor of this occasion, we looked at hiring trends for mathematical science jobs. What job titles are most in-demand and just how difficult-to-fill are these positions?

Most Commonly Advertised Mathematical Science Job Titles

  1. Operations Analyst
  2. Supply Chain Analyst
  3. Operations Research Analyst
  4. Inventory Analyst
  5. Statistician
  6. Biostatistician
  7. Clinical Data Manager
  8. Actuarial Analyst
  9. Senior Operational Analyst
  10. Senior Biostatistician

It appears that the most commonly advertised mathematical science jobs listed above are Analysts and Statisticians. These jobs require candidates to organize, analyze and interpret data. In the past year, hiring for mathematical and science occupations reached a 4-year high during September 2012, with about 19,100 job ads. Over the past 90 days, job volume increased 2% when compared to the same 90-day period in 2012. Since mathematical science occupations mostly involve analyzing and reporting data, are we seeing an increase in demand for these occupations because of the concurrent rising interest in "big data"?

Hiring Demand for Mathematical Science Occupations

Hiring Demand for Mathematical Science Occupations

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

With a shortage of skilled workers in STEM fields and data analysis, it may be expected that mathematical science occupations are likely to be difficult to recruit. Mathematical science occupations scores a 64 on our Hiring Scale out of a possible 99, where 99 demonstrates hard-to-fill. Specific job titles like Biostatistician and Clinical Data Manager are even more difficult to recruit, both scoring a 67. The best recruiting conditions for mathematical science occupations are likely to be in Orlando-Kissimmee (FL), which currently scores an 8. Only 2 other metro areas score less than 20 on our Hiring Scale, Miami (FL) and Sacremento (CA). In comparison, employers and recruiters in Lexington (KY) are likely to have the most difficulty when recruiting, scoring a 92.

Best Recruiting Conditions for Mathematical Science Occupations

Hiring Difficulty for Mathematical Science Occupations

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

Worst Recruiting Conditions for Mathematical Science Occupations

Worst Recruiting Conditions for Mathematical Science Occupations

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

What does your city score? Find out with a free trial of WANTED Analytics.

Already an Analytics user? Log in here. We're already added the mathematical sciences occupation, just add your location, and any other requirements.

March Madness in the Cloud: Python vs. PERL

By Ashley Rowe on April 5, 2013 in Computer/Math/IT.

Throughout March Madness we've been pairing up programming languages and frameworks in cloud computing jobs to see which skill combination wins in hiring demand. So far, we teamed up and .NET vs. Java and SQL vs. JavaScript in cloud computing. Now, we're matching up Python Extensible Programming Language (Python) vs. Practical Extraction and Reporting Language (PERL). Which skill set will win hiring demand in this round and which skill will take all?

In February 2013, PERL experienced slightly higher demand than Python. There were more than 72,000 job ads posted online for positions that require PERL and cloud computing, while 67,000 ads were posted for Python and cloud computing skills.

Most Commonly Advertised Occupations
for Python Skills in Cloud Computing		 Most Commonly Advertised Occupations
for PERL Skills in Cloud Computing
  1. Software Engineer
  2. Senior Software Engineer
  3. Python Developer
  4. Software Engineer Google Com
  5. Systems Engineer
  6. Systems Administrator
  7. Software Developer
  8. Java Developer
  9. Technical Support Engineer
  10. Senior Software Developer
  1. Software Engineer
  2. Senior Software Engineer
  3. Systems Administrator
  4. Linux Systems Administrator
  5. Systems Engineer
  6. Associate Services Consultant
  7. Technical Support Engineer Amazon Web Services
  8. Senior Systems Engineer
  9. Software Engineer Google Com
  10. Java Developer

Python and PERL skills in cloud computing share demand for 60% of the most commonly advertised job titles listed above. The remaining titles are unique to each programming language. Python Developer, Software Developer, Technical Support Engineer and Senior Software Developer only appear with Python skills. Linux Systems Administrator, Associate Services Consultant, Technical Support Engineer Amazon Web Services, and Senior Systems Engineer are only advertised for PERL skills. Meanwhile, both skills share a job title specific to Google. An Amazon title appears only with job ads requiring PERL abilities. Could these companies be using their own company name in the job title to attract talent based on their reputation?

On average, Recruiters are likely to experience slightly more difficult conditions when looking for candidates with PERL and cloud computing skills. This skill combination scores a 79 on our Hiring Scale (out of 99, where 99 represents hard-to-fill.) Python and cloud computing skills scores an average of 78. Currently, Los Angeles presents the best conditions for recruiting Python skills in cloud computing, scoring a 62.

Hiring Scale for Python and Cloud Computing Skills

Hiring Scale for Python and Cloud Computing Skills

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

The least difficult conditions for PERL and cloud computing skills are likely to be found in Hartford (CT), which currently scores 64.

Hiring Scale for PERL and Cloud Computing Skills

Hiring Scale for PERL and Cloud Computing Skills

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

Out of the frameworks and programming languages that we paired together in the cloud, Structured Query Language (SQL) was the most in-demand followed by JavaScript. To review hiring demand for these skills combinations, read more here.

If you're recruiting for niche IT jobs, try a free trial of WANTED Analytics™ for hiring trends and sources of candidates that meet your requirements.

Already an Analytics user? Log in here. Under the skills filter select 'cloud computing' and either 'PERL' or 'Python' and add any other requirements.

March Madness in the Cloud: SQL vs. JavaScript

By Ashley Rowe on March 29, 2013 in Computer/Math/IT.

As college basketball enters the Sweet Sixteen and approaches the Elite Eight match-ups on the court, we continue to pair up skills in the cloud. Last round, we reviewed 2 programming languages and networks in cloud computing, .NET or Java skills. In this round, we matched Structured Query Language (SQL) vs. JavaScript (JS). Which skill wins in hiring demand?

SQL is more commonly required in cloud computing skills, winning the job volume match-up. In February 2013, more than 266,000 jobs were available for SQL and cloud computing skill combinations, while 126,900 appeared online for JavaScript in cloud computing positions.

Most Commonly Advertised Job Titles for
Structured Query Language Skills in Cloud Computing		 Most Commonly Advertised Job Titles for
JavaScript Skills in Cloud Computing
  1. .NET Developer
  2. Java Developer
  3. Senior Java Developer
  4. Software Engineer
  5. Web Developer
  6. Programmer Analyst
  7. Database Administrator
  8. Software Developer
  9. Developer
  10. SQL Developer
  1. Java Developer
  2. Web Developer
  3. Senior Java Developer
  4. Software Developer
  5. Software Engineer
  6. User Interface Developer
  7. Sharepoint Developer
  8. Web Designer
  9. Developer
  10. Application Developer

.NET Developer, Programmer Analyst, Database Administrator, and SQL Developer are unique to SQL skills. User Interface Developer, Sharepoint Developer, Web Designer, and Application Developer only appear under JavaScript in cloud computing. The remaining job titles are commonly advertised for both skill set combinations.

It's slightly more difficult to recruit for JavaScript skills in cloud computing, scoring an 80 on our Hiring Scale, SQL skills scores a 76. Our Hiring Scale measures hiring difficulty on a scale of 0 – 99, with 99 indicating hard-to-fill. Rocky Mount (NC) presents the most favorable recruiting conditions for both JavaScript (14) and SQL (20) skills in cloud computing jobs. This metro area is experiencing lower hiring demand. Currently, Washington (DC), New York (NY), and San Francisco (CA) have the most demand for both of these skill combinations. In these areas, it is likely to be more difficult to fill cloud computing jobs that require SQL or JavaScript due to increased competition to attract talent.

Hiring Scale for JavaScript and Cloud Computing Skills

Hiring Scale for Java and Cloud Computing Skills

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

Hiring Scale for SQL and Cloud Computing Skills

Hiring Scale for SQL and Cloud Computing Skills

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

Are you hiring for niche IT skills? Try a free trial of WANTED Analytics™ to find the best cities to recruit talent.

Already an Analytics user? Log in here. Under the skills filter select 'cloud computing' and either 'JavaScript' or 'Structured Query Language' and add any other requirements.

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