On Dice, indicators are less optimistic. The number of job listings for the Twin Cities fell 7 percent in the fourth quarter, which can be at least partly attributed to typical seasonality. Currently, just over 1,300 jobs are listed on the site. The Dice salary survey finds that statewide, IT pay averaged $75,124, a hair above the national average, and is up an anemic 1 percent over the past year.
Sandi Henrikson, regional manager of IT recruiter Sapphire Technologies' Minneapolis office, emphasizes the importance of living in a city with a diverse economy. "I haven't noticed much of a change in the last six months," she says. "We staff across all disciplines of IT and have not experienced a slowdown in any one area."
According to the recently published 2008 Robert Half Technology Salary Guide, the strongest demand for IT expertise in Minneapolis is for database administrators, systems administrators, and LAN/WAN administrators. A quick look at the job listings for a handful of Minneapolis's employers gives some insight as to where tech workers should be looking. Best Buy lists a few dozen IT positions, with a special need for CRM specialists. At Ameriprise, business analysts are needed, and at Target, you'll find about 90 available positions that fall into its "information technology" category at headquarters.
Henrikson sees strength in the healthcare and financial industries and, unlike most recruiters, says December was a busy month. "That's a good sign, as it tells us our clients are getting a jump on their projects for 2008," she says
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That's all well and good, but the big question is whether any of those companies are hiring IT experts.
