Technology occupations grow across US economy despite staffing pullback at tech companies, CompTIA analysis reveals
Nearly 600,000 active job postings point to continued demand for tech talent
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology occupation employment increased in August and employer demand for new tech talent remained strong, according to analysis by CompTIA, the leading global provider of vendor-neutral technology training and certifications.
Tech occupation employment, which includes tech professionals working across all industry sectors, increased by 86,000 workers in August, CompTIA's analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) #JobsReport data shows.1
The employment picture within the technology sector moved in the opposite direction. Tech companies reduced staffing by about 14,700 positions, inclusive of both technical and non-technical positions. The latest data may reflect the impact of layoffs disclosed in recent months by US-headquartered tech companies.
Demand for AI skills continues to accelerate, with active job postings requiring AI-related capabilities surpassing 320,000 openings in August, a 4.5% increase from July, according to CompTIA's analysis of data from Lightcast.2 The increase aligns with new CompTIA research that indicates employers are moving beyond AI experimentation and increasingly incorporating AI into business operations, creating demand for workers who can apply AI tools, manage AI-enabled workflows, and support AI-driven initiatives.3
More broadly, employer demand for technology talent remains healthy. There were nearly 600,000 active technology occupation postings during the month, with 42% representing newly advertised positions.4 Growth in tech support, infrastructure, project management and cybersecurity roles suggests employers remain focused on strengthening core technology functions while expanding emerging capabilities.
Professional, scientific and technical services, manufacturing, and administrative support services generated the highest volumes of new technology job postings. Several industry sectors, including retail, wholesale trade, and educational services, also recorded month-over-month gains, underscoring the widespread need for technology talent across the economy.
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 leading global provider of vendor-neutral training and certification products in the information technology (IT) space. Over four million CompTIA certifications have been awarded to current and aspiring technology workers, business professionals, government and military personnel, career changers, students and others. Working in partnership with thousands of academic institutions, governments, training providers and workforce development organizations, CompTIA uses best-in-class learning solutions, industry-recognized certifications and career resources to help job seekers reach their full potential and employers develop skilled technical talent. Learn more at https://www.comptia.org/.
Contact
Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA
[email protected]
630-678-8468
1 Monthly occupation level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tends to experience higher levels of variance and volatility.
2 Labor market data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and employer job postings from Lightcast may be subject to backward revisions.
3 "Corporate AI Adoption," August 2026.
4 Active job postings include new postings added by employers in the latest month and open postings carried over from previous months.
SOURCE CompTIA
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