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Among certain popular tech jobs, the percentage of job postings that don’t require a four-year degree dipped slightly in August, even as overall tech unemployment ticked up, according to the latest data from analyst firm CompTIA.
As part of its monthly Tech Jobs Report, CompTIA has recently begun issuing data about the number of active tech job postings that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Here are the top positions for August:
Those percentages have shifted downward a tad—for example, in July, some 50 percent of active job postings for database administrator and web/UI/UX designers didn’t require a four-year degree; meanwhile, network support specialists fell from 87 percent to 86 percent month-over-month.
What’s behind these changes? It could be as benign as a normal monthly fluctuation, or it could be a sign that more employers are asking for formal degrees and certifications as a perquisite for a position. When tech unemployment ticks up, and you have more tech talent searching for work, you may see some employers becoming more stringent in their requirements, as they figure they can afford to be pickier about who they hire.
Overall, however, the trend of employers zeroing on candidates’ skills as opposed to formal degrees remains strong. “Job posting data suggests that many employers remain focused on skills-based hiring and considering candidates who traveled alternate pathways to the workforce,” added CompTIA’s report accompanying the latest employment data. “In August, 45 percent of active tech job postings did not specify a four-year degree requirement among candidates.”
Meanwhile, the tech unemployment rate ticked upward last month, hitting 3.4 percent, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.