Boston Web Tech Job Market | December 2020

The Headlines

Big Companies are Firing and Slowing Down Hiring Going into the 2020 Holidays

U.S. Economy Gains Just 245,000 Jobs in Final Report of 2020 as Recovery Stalls with Covid Surging

The Job Market in Boston

The K-Shaped Recovery in job postings for technical skills in the Boston metro area continues. Job postings are now approaching pre-lockdown levels not seen since the beginning of 2020.

While employment opportunities for non-technical workers slowly reappear, as many as 40% of jobs lost may never return according the International Labor Organization. On the contrary, after reaching a pandemic low in June, technology job postings have now risen for the sixth consecutive month.

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for December. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or  down from early November, 2020] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

December, 2020

1. agile  *** | 3,621 (job postings) up 2% (from November)
2. Python | 3.185 up 4%
3. SQL | 2,238 up 1%
4. Java | 2,095 up 4%
5. AWS | 1,946 up 5%
6. SaaS | 1,736 up 12%
7. JavaScript | 1,633 up 7%
8. scrum  *** | 1,121 up 5%
9. Azure | 1,104 up 6%
10. C# | 929 up 5%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

To learn more about these and other in-demand technologies, visit Web Apprentices, a technology skills development platform offered as a service to Boston PHP Meetup members.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.

Boston Web Tech Job Market | November 2020

The Headlines

Job Growth Stronger Than Expected in October, Unemployment Rate Slides to 6.9%

Employer Confidence Remains Flat in October

The Job Market in Boston

The unemployment rate continues to drop across the United States. However, more than 20 million Americans continue to receive state and federal financial assistance.

While the unemployment rate declines nationally, tech job postings in the Boston metro area continue to rebound. After reaching a pandemic low in June, job postings have now risen for five consecutive months.

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for November. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at  Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early October, 2020] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

November, 2020

1. agile  *** | 3,557 (job postings) up 8% (from October)
2. Python | 3.058 up 10%
3. SQL | 2,222 up 11%
4. Java | 2,008 up 6%
5. AWS | 1,847 up 10%
6. SaaS | 1,545 up 9%
7. JavaScript | 1,533 up 10%
8. scrum  *** | 1,070 up 9%
9. Azure | 1,045 up 12%
10. C# | 883 up 12%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.

Boston Web Tech Job Market | October 2020

 

The Headlines

U.S. Labor Market Slowing as Fiscal Stimulus Fades

Exclusive: America's True Unemployment Rate

The Job Market in Boston

The national labor market improves as the unemployment rate drops. However, nearly 25 million former workers continue to receive financial assistance.

While "continued claims" for unemployment decline nationally, tech job postings in the Boston metro area continue to rebound for the fourth month in a row after reaching a pandemic low in June.

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for October. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com . The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early September, 2020] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

October, 2020

1. agile *** | 3,290 (job postings) up 8% (from September)
2. Python | 2,774 up 7%
3. SQL | 1,995 up 4%
4. Java | 1,890 up 6%
5. AWS | 1,675 up 4%
6. SaaS | 1,418 up 8%
7. JavaScript | 1,397 up 2%
8. scrum  *** | 984 up 3%
9. Azure | 935 up 10%
10. API | 805 up 10%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page  @webapprentices.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.

Boston Web Tech Job Market | September 2020

The Headlines

Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Down To 11.3% For August; Biggest Drop In Country

Startup Layoffs Leveled Off Over the Summer

The Job Market in Boston

The national labor market continues to struggle with nearly 30 million former workers receiving financial assistance.

While "continued claims" for unemployment have remained high nationally, tech job postings in the Boston metro area have continued to rebound for the third month in a row after three months of sharp declines.

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for September. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early August, 2020] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

September, 2020

1. agile *** | 3,095 (job postings) up 9% (from August)
2. Python | 2,604 up 6%
3. SQL | 1,919 up 11%
4. Java | 1,787 up 6%
5. AWS | 1,614 up 2%
6. JavaScript | 1,365 up 3%
7. SaaS | 1,310 up 10%
8. scrum  *** | 954 up 12%
9. Azure | 848 up 4%
10. Web Services | 752 up 5%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page  @webapprentices.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.

Boston Web Tech Job Market | August 2020

The Headlines

Massachusetts Has the Highest Unemployment Rate in the Country

Startups’ Layoffs Continue to Level Off Despite COVID-19 Pandemic

The Job Market in Boston

Tech job postings in the Boston metro area have continued to rebound for the second month in a row after three months of sharp declines.

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for August. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early July, 2020] ranked by number of job postings in Indeed.

August, 2020

1. agile *** | 2,836 (job postings) up 9% (from July)
2. Python | 2,467 up 6%
3. SQL | 1,727 up 5%
4. Java | 1,690 up 5%
5. AWS | 1,580 up 7%
6. JavaScript | 1,322 up 6%
7. SaaS | 1,190 up 13%
8. scrum  *** | 850 up 7%
9. Azure | 817 up 18%
10. Web Services | 715 down 3%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page  @webapprentices.

View recent  Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings

Boston Web Tech Job Market | July 2020

The Headlines

Massachusetts Unemployment Rate For June Is Highest In Country At 17.4%

New Unemployment Claims in Massachusetts Continue to Drop, But Remain Well Above Pre-Coronavirus Levels

The Job Market in Boston

Overall, Massachusetts residents continue to lose jobs. However, tech job postings begin to bounce back after three months of declines.

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for July. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early June, 2020] ranked by number of job postings in Indeed.

July, 2020

1. agile *** | 2,608 (job postings) up 34% (from June)
2. Python | 2,320 up 0%
3. SQL | 1,651 up 6%
4. Java | 1,613 down 4%
5. AWS | 1,475 up 16%
6. JavaScript | 1,253 up 2%
7. SaaS # | 1,052 up 86%
8. scrum *** | 797 up 5%
9. Web Services # | 739 up 306%
10. Azure | 691 up 16%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions. Likewise, "social media" is not a technology. However, front-end web developers often work with marketing professionals to promote the output of software developers and engineers using social media.

# Note: Both SaaS and Web Services experienced deep declines in June and sharp increases in July. This may simply be an anomaly in Indeed's reporting. None-the-less, I will continue to report such seemingly abnormal changes in the future.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.

---

Gene Babon has completed ...

Google Analytics Essential Training

---

Boston Web Tech Job Market | June 2020

The Headlines

Which Jobs Are Coming Back First? Which May Never Return?

May Tech Jobs: Which Cities Beat the Averages?


The Job Market in Boston

May experienced an increase in economic activity. Cautious optimism fills the summer air despite high unemployment numbers.

How are technology workers holding up? Better than most other workers despite the fact that job postings fell for the third straight month.

The list of Top 30 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for June. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.


Top 30 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 30 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early May, 2020] ranked by number of job postings in Indeed.

June, 2020

1. Python | 2,314 (job postings) down 4% (from May)
2. agile *** | 1,946 down 29%
3. Java | 1,683 down 7%
4. SQL | 1,564 down 10%
5. AWS | 1,268 down 18%
6. JavaScript | 1,228 down 13%
7. scrum *** | 759 down 18%
8. C# | 677 down 6%
9. Azure | 595 down 16%
10. SaaS | 565 down 49%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.

The Top 30 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 30 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings .

---

Gene Babon is ...

---

Best Business Books | 2019

"What we really need is not more authors,
or better publishers.
What we most need is a vastly better system
to identify the books we will love."

TechCrunch

Beantown Web has developed such a system. For the 12th year running Beantown Web has conducted a quasi-scientific meta-search to identify the best business books published during the calendar year. These books are most likely to add value to your career.

This year's search began by identifying nine "Best of" lists. This resource list is available upon request. Presented here are the results.

A total of 157 books were mentioned on at least one "Best of" list. Of these recommendations, 127 were mentioned only once. The remaining 30 books found their way onto at least two of the nine "Best of" lists.

The Honorable Mention Shelf

Twenty of the 30 final candidates were mentioned on two "Best of" lists. These books have attained Honorable Mention status.

The Must-Read Shelf

Seven of the remaining 10 books were mentioned on three "Best of" lists and have attained Must-Read status.

• Invisible Women
• Kochland
• Talking to Strangers
• The Age of Surveillence Capitalism
• The Infinite Game
• The Man Who Solved the Market
• The Ride of a Lifetime

The Top Shelf

One book was mentioned on four "Best of" lists.

• Nine Lies About Work

One book was mentioned on five "Best of" lists.

• Range

One book was mentioned on six "Best of" lists.

• Loonshots

Here are the three Top Shelf business books published in 2019.

Personal Recommendations

If 10 books are too many to chose from, then check out the following Short List. The four highest rated books on Goodreads (of the 10 listed here) are as follows:

• The Ride of a Lifetime (4.46 rating out of 5.00)
• Invisible Women (4.42)
• Kochland (4.31)
• The Infinite Game (4.23)

These four books are now on my Short List.

I have read two of the four Short List books, plus three more from the Top Shelf. As I work through this reading list, I will post my reviews at Goodreads.com and share links here.

• Kochland  ★★★★★
• Loonshots  ★★★★
• Nine Lies About Work  ★★★★★
• Range  ★★★★
• The Ride of a Lifetime  ★★★★★

You can access more than 100 Leadership and Strategy books I have read at Pinterest.

Suggested Success Strategy

Regardless of your professional discipline, business is the engine that drives economic well-being. The economy is currently on life support. However, the winds of cautious optimism have begun as a cool summer breeze. You can help enhance your personal economic prospects -- and prepare for a new normal -- by learning more about the business of business.

Goal: Select one business book from the 10 pictured above, read it, practice its principles and shift your career into a higher gear in 2020. Of course, you can select all 10 books, read two per month, and enhance your business knowledge now that you have some extra time as a result of working from home

The 20 books on The Honorable Mention Shelf (those mentioned on two "Best of" lists) are being counted down over the next 20 days on Gene Babon's Twitter page @genebabon and Beantown Web's Facebook page @beantownweb.

---

View ALL annual Best Business Books blog postings.

Commencement | 2020

"Congratulations to all those in pursuit of a useful skill."

This is our commencement address ...

Boston Web Tech Job Market | May 2020

The Headlines

Job Openings Down 28 Percent During Coronavirus Crisis, But Decline Moderating

LinkedIn Data Shows U.S. Job Hiring May Have Hit Bottom in Mid-April

The Job Market in Boston

April experienced the largest one-month increase in joblessness in the history of our nation.

How did technology workers fair? Not so well, but better than other workers.

The list of Top 30 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for May. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.


Top 30 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 30 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early April, 2020] ranked by number of job postings in Indeed.

May, 2020

1. agile *** | 2,732 (job postings) down 19% (from April)
2. Python | 2,423 down 15%
3. Java | 1,808 down 18%
4. SQL | 1,747 down 22%
5. AWS | 1,544 down 18%
6. social media *** | 1,483 down 5%
7. JavaScript | 1,411 down 18%
8. SaaS | 1,100 down 22%
9. scrum *** | 924 down 18%
10. Web Services | 824 down 15% 
    

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions. Likewise, "social media" is not a technology. However, front-end web developers often work with marketing professionals to promote the output of software developers and engineers using social media.

The Top 30 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 30 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices and Facebook page @beantownweb.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings .

---

Gene Babon is ...

---

Boston Web Tech Job Market | April, 2020

The Headlines

A 3,000% Jump in Jobless Claims Has Devastated the US Job Market

Massive Job Cuts and Falling Tax Receipts Make for Grim Headlines

The Job Market in Boston

Ninety days ago unemployment hovered at low numbers not seen since the Beatles topped the charts with Come Together. Today, society and the economy are struggling, to say the least.

The list of Top 30 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for April. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last three months.

Top 30 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 30 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early January, 2020] ranked by number of job postings in Indeed.  These numbers are currently dropping hourly.

April, 2020

1. agile *** | 3,384 (job postings) down 29% (from January)
2. Python | 2,844 down 22%
3. SQL | 2,226 down 34%
4. Java | 2,204 down 23%
5. AWS | 1,883 down 9%
6. JavaScript | 1,711 down 29%
7. social media *** | 1,530 down 55%
8. SaaS | 1,406 down 27%
9. scrum *** | 1,124 down 19%
10. Web Services | 969 down 3%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions. Likewise, "social media" is not a technology. However, front-end web developers often work with marketing professionals to promote the output of software developers and engineers.

The Top 30 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 30 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices and Facebook page @beantownweb.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings .

---

Best Business Books | 2018

 

"What we really need is not more authors, 

or better publishers.  What we most need is 

a vastly better system to identify the books we will love."

TechCrunch

Beantown Web has developed such a system. For the 11th year running Beantown Web has conducted a quasi-scientific meta-search to identify the best business books published during the calendar year. These books are most likely to add value to your career. 

This year's search began by identifying 11 "Best of" lists. This resource list is available upon request. Presented here are the results.

A total of 119 books were mentioned on at least one "Best of" list -- 79 of these books were mentioned only once.

The Honorable Mention Shelf

An additional 27 books were mentioned on two lists and these books comprise the Honorable Mention list.

The Must-Read Shelf

Eight books were mentioned on three lists and have been placed on the Must-Read shelf:

• Billion Dollar Whale
• Brotopia
• Dare to Lead
• It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work
• Measure What Matters
• Subscribed
• The Culture Code
• Winners Take All

The Top Shelf

Three books were mentioned on four lists:

• The Art of Gathering
• The Billionaire Raj
• When

One book was mentioned on five lists:

• New Power

One book was mentioned on six lists:

• Bad Blood

Personal Recommendations

If 13 books are too many to chose from, then check out the following Short List.  The four highest rated books on Goodreads (of the 13 listed here) are as follows:

• Bad Blood (4.43 rating out of 5.00)
• The Culture Code (4.33)
• Winners Take All (4.18)
• Dare to Lead (4.17)

These four books are now on my Short List.

I have read one of five books on the Top Shelf and four from the eight books on the Must-Read shelf.  As I work through this reading list, I will post my reviews at Goodreads.com and share links here.

• Bad Blood ★★★★★
• It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work ★★★★★
• Measure What Matters ★★★★★
• The Culture Code ★★★★
• Subscribed ★★★★

You can access reviews of all 98 Leadership and Strategy books I have read at Pinterest.

Suggested Success Strategy

Regardless of your professional discipline, business is the engine that drives economic well-being. The economy continues to improve and job growth continues to look promising in 2019.  However, the winds of caution have started to rustle the leaves.  You can help enhance your personal economic prospects -- and prepare for an uncertain future -- by learning more about the business of business.

Goal: Select one business book from the five pictured above, read it, practice its principles and shift your career into a higher gear in 2019.  Of course, you can select all 13 books, read more than one per month, and receive a guaranteed seat in business class!

[ NOTE: The 13 Best Business Books of 2018 -- those making at least three "Best of" lists -- are being counted down on Facebook.  Follow Beantown Web on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web and on Twitter @genebabon. ]

View recent Best Business Books blog postings.