JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- As the economy continues through its recovery and corporate earnings show signs of improvement, companies across North America are reinvesting in information technology (IT) projects that had been put on hold during the recession. Modis, a leading provider of IT staffing, has identified a list of the top 12 cities to find IT jobs today, with Houston taking the top spot on the list for the second year in a row.
The rankings are based on internal data from Modis' branch network across the U.S. and Canada. The list shows the cities with highest potential for IT job growth in the coming year, based on the volume of job openings over the past six months, as well as general assessment of the overall economic environment in each market.
Houston topped the list due to the growing demand for IT support in health care, as well as oil and gas, two of the city's main industries. In addition, Houston is the fourth-largest city in the U.S. and has an unemployment rate below the national average, helping to attract new talent from other parts of the country. The skills most in demand in the metro area include network engineers, project managers, business analysts, and Java and .NET developers.
Toronto came in second on the list, in part due to its position as the fourth-largest IT market in North America. Home to many Fortune 500 companies, it is also the third-largest financial center in North America after New York and Chicago. Fittingly, the top industries hiring in this city are financial services, government, systems integrators and consulting services. Project management, Java development, and SAP or CRM experience are the skills most in demand.
Third place on the list is Orlando, Florida, where a number of factors are at play, including the new "Medical City" initiative, which is driving demand for health-care IT jobs. In addition, the increased networking needs of companies across industries are boosting demand for telecommunications professionals. Orlando-area employers are most in search of IT help-desk specialists, network administrators and software engineers today.
The full list of the "Top 12 Cities to Find an IT Job in 2012" is:
- Houston
- Toronto
- Orlando
- San Francisco
- Minneapolis
- McLean, Virginia
- Walnut Creek, California
- Detroit
- Jacksonville, Florida
- New York
- Denver
- Boston
"A strong, up-to-date IT infrastructure is crucial to businesses, and so with increased confidence in the economy, many companies are reinvesting in IT initiatives, beginning with talent," said Jack Cullen, president of Modis. "Given the geographical spread of cities on this list as well as the breadth of skills needed, there is opportunity across North America for IT professionals who are looking to get ahead and further their careers."
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