The economic recovery following the pandemic has been kind to certain job sectors in Phoenix, as salaries have risen substantially, according to a Business Journals analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This upturn has resulted in a number of occupations in the Phoenix metro area, including 16 job roles, reaching six-figure salaries between 2021 and 2022. Specifically, positions such as postsecondary teachers in atmospheric and earth sciences saw significant median wage increases, soaring 57%, from $98,070 in 2021 to a sizable $154,010 in 2022.
Other professions experiencing substantial salary hikes include neurologists who earned a 57% increase, and electrical power-line installers and repairers, gaining 26% in the same timeframe. The surge in wages across a variety of job titles is a positive sign for the local economy, but it contrasts with the national picture for new IT jobs. A report by Slashdot the addition of only 700 IT jobs across the U.S. last year, a stark downturn from the 267,000 jobs created the year before.
Janco Associates, a tech consultancy, points to a massive discrepancy in the IT job market, with nearly 100,000 positions remaining unfilled, while over 101,000 IT professionals are unemployed - a clear indicator of a mismatch of skills in the workforce. "Based on our analysis, the IT job market and opportunities for IT professionals are poor at best," Janco CEO M Victor Janulaitis said in a statement by Slashdot. Janco notes that while entry-level IT job growth has stalled, there's an ongoing demand for individuals skilled in AI, security, development, and blockchain technologies.
Furthermore, Janulaitis suggests that those affected by the recent tech layoffs have an apparent path forward: upskilling for AI-related roles. "Artificial intelligence and machine learning IT professionals remain in high demand," he explained, as reported by Slashdot. This shift towards AI capabilities indicates that the job market may continue to evolve rapidly, particularly as more companies aim to integrate AI technologies within their workforce. The data from Phoenix's salary surge and the national IT job slump presents a clear dichotomy between local market-specific growth and broader national IT employment challenges.
