Tech Hiring Giving Mixed Messages
Technology hiring was a mixed bag in August, according to data released by IT trade organization CompTIA.
While technology companies retuned to hiring by adding about 9,200 net new workers, US employers across industries cut down IT jobs for a second consecutive month.
“On the tech industry employment side, it’s encouraging to see the pick-up in hiring among IT services and software firms, especially given the large number of small and medium-size businesses in that sector,” said Tim Herbert, executive vice president for research and market intelligence at CompTIA. “On the tech occupation employment side, the data does run counter to expectations, so we have to be careful not to read too much into any single month,” he continued. “The macro trend, however, remains unchanged with a continuation of the positive tech employment trajectory.”
According to CompTIA’s review of the latest data from U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, US employers shed 323,000 IT positions during the month of August. For the year, IT occupations had positive gains in five months, resulting in a net positive of 271,000 new jobs through August.
The unemployment rate for IT occupations inched up in August to 4.6 percent. In comparison, IT occupation unemployment peaked at about 6.5 percent during the Recession in 2007 to 2009 and the dotcom bust that lasted two years, beginning in 2000.
The highest number of job postings by industry sector were professional, scientific and technical services, finance and insurance, manufacturing, and information.
In recent appointments and career moves:
Power company Public Service Enterprise Group has appointed Zeeshan Sheikh its new senior vice president, Chief Information and Digital Officer. He will be responsible for leading, directing, planning and managing all information technology and digital needs, including all ongoing business transformation strategies and improving the digital experience for customers and employees. He will report to PSEG Services Corp. President Derek DiRisio and will be a member of the Executive Officer Group.
Smart and sustainable buildings firm Johnson Controls has appointed Diane Schwarz as CIO. She will be responsible for leading an integrated, reliable, business-aligned IT organization. She will develop and execute an enterprise-wide IT strategy that continues to merge technology operations to ensure a strong foundation for Johnson Controls to scale and achieve its global growth objectives. Previously, she worked as Senior Vice President & Chief Digital and Information Officer at Hunt Consolidated, a privately held Global Energy and Real Estate company.
San Francisco-based PG&E Corporation, the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, has appointed of Ajay Waghray as Senior Vice President and CIO. He will have oversight of PG&E's IT and cybersecurity functions. He will report to Bill Smith, Interim CEO of PG&E Corporation. Previously, PG&E, Waghray was Managing Partner of Agni Growth Ventures, advising on big data, security, machine learning, and artificial intelligence strategies. Before AGV, he worked as CTO of Assurant, a Fortune 500 global provider of risk management products and services.
And…
AirBnB has appointed Lucius DiPhillips as CIO.
GE Lighting has appointed Rob Freshman as CIO.
Gap Inc has appointed Kim Stromberg as CDO.
YMCA Of the USA has appointed Siva Balu as CIO.
Central Maine Healthcare has appointed Ron McKinnon as Vice President and CIO.
Black and Veatch has appointed Irvin Bishop as CIO.
Maestro Health has appointed Peter Murphy as CTO.
Fidelity National Information Services has appointed Bill Weid as CTO for Real Time Payments.
Revlon has appointed Jose Urquijo as interim CTO.
Neiman Marcus has appointed Ed Robben as interim CIO.
Werner has appointed Daragh Mahon as CIO.
Magellan Midstream Partners has appointed Bhupesh Arora as CIO.
