| January 2007 |
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| IT job growth tends to be more stable than in other California regions |
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| Helen MacKinnon, an IT recruiter with southern California's Technical Connections, has been observing the LA IT sector for 25 years. When interviewed, did she mention the entertainment industry first? Naturally. "In LA, there’s no doubt that entertainment and all of its associated businesses will always be a mainstay," she said. “And since all the studios are very invested in keeping up with the others, there will always be new and more technology to be investigated and implemented."
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Nevertheless, LA has plenty of other things going on. "There are a number of financial institutions in LA as well as newer startups in mobile, wireless computing, and Web content development," MacKinnon said. "We tend to be more stable than, say, a Silicon Valley or Research Triangle. Right now we’re in a strong demand/low supply mode."
What's hottest right now? According to MacKinnon, it's project management and business analyst positions. "Companies have come to the realization that great technology won’t help if it’s not implemented correctly, which includes not only delivering on time and on budget, but also insisting on user involvement and a high rate of acceptance."
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| 17% of LA CIOs plan to make new hires this quarter |
| - Robert Half Technology's first-quarter IT Hiring Index |
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IT job seekers in LA should consider the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s “Mid-Year Update: 2006-2007 Economic Forecast & Industry Outlook for Southern California.” It highlighted several industries with positive outlooks, including commercial aerospace, business and professional management services, biotech, and international trade. With overall unemployment hovering at a relatively low 4.2%, employers are eager to find candidates. And while the most recent quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook Survey suggests that only 18% of the companies interviewed (across all industries) plan to hire in the first quarter, IT staffing consultancy Robert Half Technology's first-quarter IT Hiring Index found that 17% of LA CIOs plan to make new hires this quarter.
At Dice, LA has lagged behind other California regions. Listings dropped in the fourth quarter, in part because of seasonality, after a strong first half of 2006. And 2006 IT salaries increased an average of 7.67% over 2005 to $79,583 according to the Dice Salary Survey. "We expect to see more LA listings in the first quarter," said Scot Melland, CEO of Dice. "For now, job hunters should focus on the industries that seem to be doing best."
And what are they? Diana Jordan, branch manager for IT recruiter Sapphire Technologies, pointed to digital media, entertainment, advertising, gaming, and finance as places for IT job seekers to look. The skills she saw most in demand: Java and .NET development. "The market is very tight," Jordan said, "But although there is a high demand for IT candidates in the LA area, companies now are a lot more careful about how they spend their money as compared to the dot com days. The jobs are definitely there, but clients are more prudent and cautious in what they are willing to pay. Candidates need to make sure to stay competitive and honest."
It should also be noted that statewide, a lively R&D climate is in full effect. In late December, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the Governor's Research and Innovation Initiative, a $95 million budget item that hopes to bring several big research projects involving petascale computers, biotech, and alternative energy research to the state's university system. As Schwarzenegger put it, "With some of the world's finest universities and research institutions, the Golden State has more scientists, engineers and researchers and invests more on research and development than any other state. As a leader in developing new technologies, California will reap tremendous rewards for our economy and environment from this investment in our innovation infrastructure."
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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