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Texas had the highest percentage growth and the most new positions gained in the first half of the year, adding 8,100 positions this year to employ 143,300 tech workers, nearly a 6 percent jump, according to a report from online jobs portal Dice.
In just the first six months of 2014, Florida has created nearly as many tech jobs (4,100) as the state did in all of last year (4,500), and the state is making an effort to focus on growing their tech employment workforce by starting early and reaching middle and high school students through workshops.
Texas’ IT jobs boom is being felt state wide, Dice president Shravan Goli told eWEEK, highlighting several hubs with different tech needs driving employment.
For example, in Houston the energy corridor is creating new technology positions as the oil and gas industry becomes more technical in drilling.
In Austin, mobile and UI (user interface) is flourishing as companies find ways to connect with their customers on-the-go, and in Dallas, there are retailers and financial services companies in need of developers as they build out e-commerce platforms.
The Lone Star state has created so many new jobs, it now ranks as having the second largest workforce of technology professionals behind California, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics covering computer systems design and related services.
“Hiring managers tell us they’re noticing more technology professionals rejecting offers and candidates are asking for more money as compared to six months ago,” Goli said. “Tech pros are becoming choosier and with the wide range of opportunities available across the country, now’s the time to capitalize on what tech has to offer.”
Missouri also made the list of top 10 states for IT jobs, partly driven by cities like St. Louis, where the local government is making a concerted effort to invest in technology and startups.
“These smaller cities can really benefit from local leaders making technology employment a priority, especially with the cost of living significantly lower than other large tech hubs,” Goli explained.
Like Florida, St. Louis also invests in tech nurturing programs, in its case through a non-profit initiative called the IT Entrepreneur Network (ITEN) which serves startup ventures with mentors.
Goli pointed out a few key areas where tech jobs are fast growing, including big data, mobile and security, as companies across the United States try to find ways to gain better insight into their customer behavior.
“When you think about mobile, it’s not just building applications that’s driving demand for tech pros,” he said. “Companies want to create a visually clean and engaging mobile experience too.”
North Carolina grew tech jobs at nearly 4 percent, third highest in the nation. On any given day, North Carolina’s tech employers post 2,200 open positions on Dice searching for Java and SQL professionals, according to the report.
The Pacific Northwest rounds out the top five, with Oregon and Washington. Both states enjoyed a mid-3 percent increase from year-end.
“There’s a strong demand for technology talent across the U.S. and so there is plenty to go around,” Goli said. “Every city is trying to find ways to capitalize on the benefits a strong technology presence brings to a region.”