KC Tech Specs v.09: the data defining KC’s tech economy
KC Tech Specs: Kansas City Tech Job Postings Grow Nearly 5X Faster Than U.S.
New KC Tech Council report shows growing employer demand, a $13.1 billion regional tech economy and an opportunity to better connect job opportunities with tech talent.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Sept. 17, 2026) — Kansas City’s demand for technology talent is accelerating. Tech job postings grew 7.4% from 2024 to 2025, nearly five times the 1.6% national growth rate, according to KC Tech Specs v.09, released today by KC Tech Council.
The big picture: Three findings define Kansas City’s tech economy:
- Demand is shifting. Employer demand is growing even as longer-term net tech employment remains relatively flat. The skills employers need are changing, too, with Microsoft Azure and SQL now leading technical skill demand.
- KC has meaningful scale. The region has approximately 75,000 net tech workers, representing 6.5% of the workforce, and generates an estimated $13.1 billion in direct economic impact, about 7% of the regional economy.
- The opportunity is converting demand into growth. KC has the employer demand and a need to more clearly connect talent, training and career pathways to move more people from skill development into high-value tech careers.
“The data is telling us where we’re gaining ground, as well as where we need to compete harder,” said Kara Lowe, CEO of the KC Tech Council. “The goal is growth: more Kansas Citians moving into high-value tech careers, more employers finding the talent and conditions they need to grow, and greater recognition of Kansas City as a place where technology companies and careers can thrive.”
Why it matters: Technology talent powers nearly every major industry in Kansas City. Turning growing demand into more high-value careers strengthens both KC’s talent base and its broader economy.
KC Tech Specs v.09 draws from CompTIA’s State of the Tech Workforce 2026, JobsEQ, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and KC TechBridge.
