IT Jobs Rise in U.S., Fall on the West Coast

The number of information technology workers overall increased 2% in the U.S. in the first quarter of this year, but the West Coast -- including Silicon Valley -- saw a decline, according to a tech industry report.

High-tech jobs grew to 10.5 million in the first quarter, compared with 10.3 million a year earlier, according to the Information Technology Assn. of America. The Northeast added 5%, the South gained 4% and the Midwest edged up 2.6%. The West lost 0.7%.

The report said it was unlikely that the situation in the West would improve this year.

The results were drawn from a national phone survey of 500 people who oversee IT hiring in their organizations. The calls took place Feb. 24 to March 23, and the margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.