I.T. market gains a net 30,200 jobs in first half, report says

The tech industry showed a net gain of 30,200 jobs in the first half, led by 14,200 new jobs in software services and 29,700 new jobs in engineering and technology services, according to a new report released this week from the TechAmerica Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides research and educational services related to technology innovation.

At the same time, however, the category of communications services, which includes Internet and telecommunications infrastructure companies, shed 22,800 jobs in the first half, the report says.

“Though the tech industry was among the last to feel the effects of the economic downturn of 2008-2009, it was not immune to job loss and is only slowly showing signs of climbing out of it,” says Josh James, the foundation’s vice president, research and industry analysis. “Tech employment as of June 2010 stood at 5.78 million, compared to 5.99 million in January 2009. So there is still a way to go before we’ve made up for lost jobs, and continued recovery is by no means certain. With job growth in three of the four tech sectors, we remain guardedly optimistic.”

“As one of the last industries to feel the effects of the recession, the technology industry now appears to be slowly turning the corner with the rest of the economy,” adds TechAmerica president and CEO Phil Bond. “We have weathered the storm better than most. From its position embedded in every other industry, technology remains the best hope for driving robust recovery across the economy.”