Latest employment data reflects drag on tech hiring as employers navigate uncertainty on several fronts, CompTIA analysis finds

Key employment metrics slip in tech and across the broader labor market

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Dec. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Key measurements of technology-related employment declined in November, impacted by a combination of factors that are slowing hiring activity, according to analysis by CompTIA, Inc., the leading global provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certifications.

Technology companies reduced staffing by an estimated 6,878 workers inclusive of all types of positions, CompTIA analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) #JobsReport data reveals.¹ The bulk of reductions occurred in the IT and custom software services and systems design category. Technology companies employ an estimated 5.3 million workers.

Tech occupation employment, which encompasses employers across all industry sectors, declined by an estimated 134,000 workers.² The unemployment rate for technology occupations rose slightly in November to 4%. More than 6.6 million workers hold positions in tech occupations.

“On the heels of the government shutdown, the latest tech employment data is in line with expectations,” said Tim Herbert, chief research officer, CompTIA. “Employers face a tricky balancing act in needing to expand the skill and capability of their tech workforces while navigating uncertainty on the economic, geopolitical, AI and other fronts.”

Employer job postings for technology positions totaled nearly 436,000 last month, including 174,085 new postings. Both totals were down from the prior month and well off the average monthly volume rate for the year. Year-to-date through November, total job posting volumes are up slightly over the same period in 2024.

The highest volumes of job postings were for positions in software development and engineering, tech support, systems engineering and architecture, cybersecurity engineering and analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) engineering.

CompTIA’s AI Hiring Intent Index shows that 41% of all active tech job postings in November were for specific AI jobs or for positions that require some level of AI skills.

The “CompTIA Tech Jobs Report” is available at https://www.comptia.org/en-us/resources/research/tech-jobs-report/.

About CompTIA
CompTIA, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certification products. CompTIA unlocks potential in millions of aspiring technology professionals and careers changers. Working in partnership with thousands of academic institutions and training providers, CompTIA helps students build career-ready skills through best-in-class learning solutions, industry-recognized certifications and career resources. Learn more at https://www.comptia.org/.

Contact
Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA
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¹ Labor market data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and employer job postings from Lightcast may be subject to backward revisions.
² Monthly occupation level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tends to experience higher levels of variance and volatility.

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SOURCE CompTIA