7 Tech Jobs Hardest Hit By Layoffs In 2015
Despite a relatively low unemployment rate for the tech industry, some of its jobs were hit harder with layoffs than others in 2015. Take a look at the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics data to see how your job and those of your peers fared.
![](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt69509c9116440be8/blt062f9154b8474c20/64cb3e4e1d25b30362cffdbc/Slide1_Intro_MarsBars_iStock_000010932322_Medium.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Tech unemployment stood at only 2.6% in 2015, based on data culled from the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics by InformationWeek. That's far better than the 5% unemployment rate across all industries at the close of last year and 4.9% for January 2016.
But within the tech industry, seven out of eleven IT occupations listed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), had an unemployment rate that was higher than the tech industry's 2.6% unemployment rate in 2015, according to BLS data. Figures are based on workers who filed unemployment claims in 2015.
Tech workers were hit hard with layoffs in 2015. Hewlett Packard cut 30,000 positions, Microsoft 7,800, and Qualcomm 4,500, according to a Fortune report.
More cuts are coming. Yahoo is preparing to cut 1,700 jobs, as it eyes its corporate makeover. In fact, in February, Yahoo cut 107 jobs at its headquarters, with software development engineers taking the most impact.
Although seven tech occupations had a higher percentage of unemployed workers than the tech industry overall last year, four IT positions fared better than the industry average. Database administrators, computer network architects, software developers, and computer systems analysts all had unemployment rates below the industry’s 2.6%. Even though there are seven IT occupations that had a higher unemployment rate than the tech industry average rate, some of these occupations are expected to post double-digit job growth in future years leading up to 2024, according to the BLS.
[See 8 Hot Tech Jobs Getting Big Salary Bumps in 2016.]
One technology recruiting firm, CyberCoders, has seen strong demand for IT workers, including positions that saw big layoffs in 2015, despite the unemployment data listed by the BLS.
"We continue to see the demand for tech professionals to be extremely high," said Matt Miller, CyberCoders CTO, in an email interview with InformationWeek. "Demand for IT will only increase as companies continue to understand the importance that software development has on their entire business process."
He added that some of the discrepancy between the BLS data and what his company is seeing could be attributed to the way the BLS defines its job title terms and job title selection.
Here's a look at the 7 tech occupations that the BLS listed as having the highest unemployment rate in its sector in 2015 and which jobs are expected to see double-digit growth by 2024. The following pages also list the unemployment rate, the number of employed workers, and the number of unemployed tech workers who filed unemployment claims in 2015.
Take a look and let us know what you think. Are you concerned about your own job security? Sound off in the comments section below.
Rising stars wanted. Are you an IT professional under age 30 who's making a major contribution to the field? Do you know someone who fits that description? Submit your entry now for InformationWeek's Pearl Award. Full details and a submission form can be found here.
Unemployment Rate: 2.7%
Employed: 72,000
Unemployed: 2,000
The tech industry has been aware for a number of years of the slowdown in PC sales as users' computing needs have shifted from PCs to tablets or smartphones. Additionally, hardware makers are also putting a greater emphasis on the importance of software innovation, rather than on relying on hardware innovation, the BLS notes.
So, with its unemployment rate above that of the tech industry and its job growth projected to inch up by only 3% by 2024, slower than the average for all job occupations in the US, computer hardware engineers are among the seven IT occupations that may face a greater chance of getting hit with layoffs.
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%
Employed: 218,000
Unemployed: 7,000
Network and computer systems administrator jobs faced a steeper unemployment rate than the tech industry overall, as cloud computing put a dent into the need of IT network systems administrators.
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
Employed: 480,000
Unemployed: 18,000
Computer programmers are facing a double-whammy when it comes to their job outlook. Not only is the unemployment rate for computer programmers one percentage point higher than the broader tech unemployment rate, but job growth projections look dismal heading into 2024.
The BLS is forecasting an 8% decline in job growth for computer programmers over the next eight years, the only tech occupation that is expected to fall between now and 2024. According to the BLS, "Computer programming can be done from anywhere in the world, so companies sometimes hire programmers in countries where wages are lower."
As a result, computer programmers in the US should brace themselves for a layoff hit when their company restructures.
Unemployment Rate: 3.7%
Employed: 475,000
Unemployed: 18,000
The unemployment rate for computer support workers was nearly 4%, which for some may not seem that surprising, since more of these jobs moved offshore.
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
Employed: 204,000
Unemployed: 8,000
Web developers faced an unemployment rate of 3.8% as some of their work also moved offshore.
Unemployment Rate: 4%
Employed: 24,000
Unemployed: 1,000
Computer and information research scientists faced an unemployment rate that broke into the 4% level in 2015, one of only two tech occupations to do so, according to BLS data. Although it's not clear why this occupation would have encountered such a high unemployment rate, the answer may be partially found in the small number of people who work in this particular field. The computer and information research scientist job had the smallest number of IT professionals in this line of work, compared with the other tech occupations the BLS listed.
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
Employed: 70,000
Unemployed: 3,000
Of all the 11 tech occupations listed by the BLS, information security analysts had the highest unemployment rate. In part, it may be due to the number of cyber-security cloud mergers that occurred in 2015. These may have led to layoffs as companies combined operations and reduced redundant roles held by its employees.
Despite the higher unemployment rate than the tech industry average, some of the aforementioned occupations are expected to post double-digit job growth in the coming years leading up to 2024, according to BLS projections.
Among the more surprising forecasts is that computer support occupations are expected to capture 12% job growth between now and 2024. "More support services will be needed as organizations upgrade their computer equipment and software," the BLS reasoned.
Although the unemployment rate for Web developers was higher than the 2.6% for the overall tech industry, the BLS is forecasting that Web developers will enjoy an astronomical 27% increase in job growth. "Demand will be driven by the growing popularity of mobile devices and e-commerce," stated the BLS.
The BLS also estimates the computer and information research scientist role will grow 11% between now and 2024, because a number of companies have a difficult time finding enough of these highly skilled employees.
Despite the number of unemployed information security analysts in 2015, the BLS is forecasting that this occupation will capture job growth of 18% between now and 2024. "Demand for information security analysts is expected to be very high, as these analysts will be needed to create innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or causing problems for computer networks," according to the BLS.
Despite the higher unemployment rate than the tech industry average, some of the aforementioned occupations are expected to post double-digit job growth in the coming years leading up to 2024, according to BLS projections.
Among the more surprising forecasts is that computer support occupations are expected to capture 12% job growth between now and 2024. "More support services will be needed as organizations upgrade their computer equipment and software," the BLS reasoned.
Although the unemployment rate for Web developers was higher than the 2.6% for the overall tech industry, the BLS is forecasting that Web developers will enjoy an astronomical 27% increase in job growth. "Demand will be driven by the growing popularity of mobile devices and e-commerce," stated the BLS.
The BLS also estimates the computer and information research scientist role will grow 11% between now and 2024, because a number of companies have a difficult time finding enough of these highly skilled employees.
Despite the number of unemployed information security analysts in 2015, the BLS is forecasting that this occupation will capture job growth of 18% between now and 2024. "Demand for information security analysts is expected to be very high, as these analysts will be needed to create innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or causing problems for computer networks," according to the BLS.
-
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like