Data Intelligence
Landing the first tech job is harder than it should be, so together, we’re working towards creating common knowledge about the opportunity market for skilled technical work in Kansas City.
Demand:
Jobs Opening Rate: is a new common measure to quantify gaps in supply/demand of talent - as a whole or by occupation.
Jobs Openings Rate calculation: (openings / total employed + openings)
what this means:
Tech roles saw an overall 4% increase in Kansas City. The Job Opening Rate is the proportion of available positions that are vacant (as measured by active job postings for that role). All tech job codes saw an increase in the open rate quarter over quarter, indicating a universal increase in opportunity for job seekers.
what this means:
The critical mass of open tech roles in KC is spread across many companies that hire fewer than 20 tech roles per year. This type of market can be that much more difficult to navigate for new talent.
Education:
what this means:
While most tech roles require a 4-year degree, as demand increases, some roles like Document Management Specialists and IT Project Managers are seeing opportunities for non-degree candidates.
what this means:
While the most common requirement is 3-5 years of experience, some roles, such as GIS technologists and Document Management Specialists, require 1 year of experience. In many cases, any job experience is accepted by these open roles, suggesting some growth in entry-level opportunities.
Skills & Requirements:
what this means:
Durable skills are consistent across those roles requiring experience versus new opportunities. Communication and Cooperation consistently top both lists.
what this means:
SQL is consistently one of the most universally required skills for all experience levels, followed by Microsoft, Python and Agile skills.
what is a tech worker?
KC TechBridge leverages industry-standard job codes (SOC Codes) to define “tech jobs."
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system is a federal standard used to classify workers into occupational categories by job duties for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data. All data is presented by SOC code or as an aggregate of all tech jobs.
Organizationally, these roles could sit in various parts of a business and do not have to be in a traditional IT department to be considered a “tech job."
Computer and Information Systems Managers (11-3021)
Computer Systems Analysts (15-1211)
Information Security Analysts (15-1212)
Computer and Information Research Scientists (15-1221)
Computer Network Support Specialists (15-1231)
Computer User Support Specialists (15-1232)
Computer Network Architects (15-1241)
Database Administrators (15-1242)
Database Architects (15-1243)
SOC codes identified to meet the definition of a tech job:
Network and Computer Systems Administrators (15-1244)
Computer Programmers (15-1251)
Software Developers (15-1252)
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (15-1253)
Web Developers (15-1254)
Web and Digital Interface Designers (15-1255)
Computer Occupations, All Other (15-1299)
Data Scientists (15-2051)
Computer Hardware Engineers (17-2061)
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers (49-2011)
Data Archive:
Want to see how KC’s tech ecosystem continues to evolve over time? Check out past Data Dashboards for key snapshots.
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December 2025
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February 2025
resources
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DeBruce Foundation’s annual report examines how Kansas City area employers can better attract, retain and support entry-level workers by understanding their priorities around workplace flexibility, training opportunities, benefits, and career advancement pathways.
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TriCom Technical Services survey reports on Kansas City IT professionals' attitudes and preferences regarding remote work arrangements, including their willingness to work remotely, preferred work location models, and factors that influence their remote work decisions.
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The KC Tech Council’s annual Tech Specs Report provides a comprehensive analysis of Kansas City's technology sector, including workforce data, salary comparisons, economic impact, and competitive positioning to demonstrate the region's emergence as a cost-effective and talent-rich tech hub.
ACCESS REPORT
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