Navigating Today’s Competitive Entry-Level IT Job Market

Welcome to a new episode of Tech Brewed! Today, Greg Doig is diving into the increasingly competitive world of breaking into IT careers. While entry-level computer support roles still offer impressive salaries compared to the average job, landing that first position is tougher than ever. Remote work has opened these jobs to applicants nationwide, leading to fierce competition, and the number of new tech graduates has soared in the past decade.

In this episode, Greg Doig unpacks the current IT job market with insightful data, reveals why persistence and the right skills can make all the difference, and shares three crucial tips for aspiring IT pros: building strong soft skills, gaining hands-on experience, and showing a passion for learning. Whether you're just starting out or looking to pivot into tech, this episode offers practical advice to help you stand out. Stay tuned for tips, resources, and more to help you kickstart your IT journey!

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Transcript

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Ready for another tech tip from wvbi? Well then, here is Greg Doig with another one for you. Welcome back, tech enthusiasts. I'm Greg Doig and today we're talking. About getting into it and why it's. Harder than ever and what you need to know. The money's still there. Entry level computer support roles pay over. $61,000 in medium wages versus under$50,000 for the average job. But landing that first position, much tougher these days. There are two big reasons why remote work opened the floodgates. Jobs that used to draw local candidates now get hundreds or thousands of applications from across the country. You're competing globally. Second, tech graduates have doubled in the last decade, from 52,000 to in 2013 to 2014 to over 112,000 by 2022 to 2023. And way more qualified candidates chasing the same roles. So here's the kicker. I pulled some data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2008, during the Great Recession or. The last one, there were 234,000 open computer support positions. In 2024, just 50,500. Even during one of the worst economic crashes, there were nearly five times more. Entry level IT jobs. The ratio tells the story. In 2010, one opening for every 2.3 computer support specialists. In 2024, one opening for every 17.5 people. So is it still worth it? Yes. But getting the first job is the hard part. Once you're in and willing to upskill. Continuously, there's a path forward. Computer support roles are projected to contract. 3%, but overall IT occupations should grow 10% over the next decade, more than three times the economy wide average. If you're breaking in now, focus on three things. You ready? Here we go. One. Soft skills matter. Communication and collaboration are essential. Technical knowledge alone won't cut it. 2. Get hands on experience. Home labs, internships, volunteer work. Real world practice sets you apart. And three, show you're eager to learn. Tech moves fast. Employers want people who can adapt. Breaking into IT is harder, but absolutely. Achievable with the right approach and persistence. If you want to find out more. About IT careers, here's a couple of websites you might want to visit. Spiceworks.com and also comptia.org that's C O M P T I A dot org. And thanks for listening once again and I'll catch you next time. Get the latest top tech news stories once a week by signing up for the tech newsletter@gregdoig.com and subscribe to the Techbrood YouTube channel for videos and podcasts. Thank you. WVDI Tech Tip is made possible by our launch sponsors and with the support of listeners like you. Thank you.