| October 2006 |
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There is a lot of energy in Houston's IT job market right now, and most of it is flowing from, well, the energy sector.
Energy is growing fast in Houston and has recently received a great deal of attention and investment from both private and state interests, according to Bill Howe, Houston’s branch manager for IT staffing firm Sapphire Technologies.
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“Energy drives IT in Houston, but there are still a number of other verticals that have big tech needs,” said Howe, who noted a robust telecommunications industry provides plenty of IT employment in the area.
By the end of 2006, Houston is projected to have added more than 70,000 new jobs for the year, its strongest job market since 2000, according to a study by Houston-based research firm Metrostudy.
IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology has also noted recent hiring has increased. Its fourth-quarter IT Hiring Index finds that a net 17% of Houston CIOs plan to make new hires this quarter.
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| 17% of Houston CIOs plan to make new hires this quarter. |
| - Robert Half Technology's fourth-quarter IT Hiring Index |
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The quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is equally optimistic. From October to December, 41% of the companies interviewed (across all sectors) plan to hire more employees, while only 6% expect to reduce their payrolls, according to Manpower spokesperson Claudette Hilliard. “Hiring intentions are similar to those reported a year ago when 43% of companies surveyed thought employment increases were likely and 9% intended to cut back,” said Hilliard.
Houston resident Jenson Babu has had plenty of experience finding IT work in the city, and more precisely within Houston’s vast energy sector. A desktop support analyst for Chevron, Babu continues to receive queries about his availability in the tech industry. “I still get calls,” said Babu, noting that he has been off the market for some time. "The market has such a need for talent: recruiters are continually trying to lure tech professionals to new opportunities."
In fact, opportunities in Houston’s IT job market have soared throughout the year. Listings on Dice have climbed a remarkable 68% since January, up to a total of 1,704 by the end of September.
“Houston is quickly moving toward the point where it was during the dot com boom,” said Scot Melland, CEO of Dice. “All the indicators show another solid year for tech professionals.” And that includes increasing salaries. Houston IT professionals reported earning an average yearly income of $71,400, according to a salary survey by Dice. The national average tech salary is $70,300.
Howe said he also expects the market hiring to continue through the end of this year. “It doesn’t show any signs of slowing down,” he said. Dice’s CEO Melland agrees. “Finding enough quality tech workers is proving to be a challenge in Houston,” Melland said.
If you would like to be interviewed for the next Dice market report, or if you have comments about this article, please contact us at feedback@dice.com.
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| Dice job postings in Houston are up 68% since Jan. |
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