U.S. employers posted 22.2% more ads for information technology occupations in October than a year earlier, as CompTIA estimated employment gains both in tech industries and in IT roles across the wider economy.
CompTIA put the tech-industry increase at about 7,200 jobs and the gain among IT occupations at about 26,000. The first estimate groups workers by industry; the second counts IT occupations across industries. CompTIA said unemployment among IT workers was 2.8%. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a 4.1% national unemployment rate.
Employers posted 290,892 new ads for IT occupations during October, 4.5% more than in September. Active postings totaled 629,876, up 18.5% from October 2025. Software developer and engineer roles led new listings with 51,944 ads, a 6.3% monthly increase. These totals reflect advertised openings and do not show how many positions were ultimately filled.
Active postings seeking AI skills numbered 366,322, up 6.2% from September. CompTIA also reported a 9.8% rise in demand for specialized AI positions, without specifying the comparison period. The broader AI-skills measure can include openings that seek AI expertise even when the job title does not mention it.
CompTIA said employers in professional and technical services, manufacturing, health care and construction sought workers with technology skills. “The bigger story is where the demand is occurring,” said Seth Robinson, CompTIA’s vice president of research.
The BLS reported that nonfarm payroll employment rose by 165,000 in October, while its broader Information industry lost 1,000 jobs. The October employment report provides a nationwide labor-market comparison, though its industry groupings do not align directly with CompTIA’s tech-industry measure. The BLS is scheduled to release its November employment report Dec. 4 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
