The number of IT jobs in the US edged up only 0.06% in December from November to almost 5.2 million, reported TechServe Alliance, an association of IT and engineering staffing companies. Year over year, IT employment in the US rose by 2.43% in December, adding 122,900 IT jobs.

“While the overall rate of growth in IT employment has continued to decelerate throughout the year and reached its low ebb in December, there is reason to be optimistic that demand will increase in 2017,” said TechServe Alliance CEO Mark Roberts.

Engineering employment growth was also barely perceptible, edging up only 0.02% in December from November to more than 2.5 million jobs. Year over year, the increase remained anemic at 0.72%, representing 20,500 engineering jobs.

“With many economists projecting more robust growth in GDP, we fully expect demand for IT and engineering talent to accelerate as 2017 unfolds,” Roberts said. “However, we continue to be concerned with the rhetoric supporting more restrictive immigration policies for high skilled workers. Given many IT occupations are effectively at full employment, the lack of an adequate domestic supply of IT and engineering talent may hinder job growth here causing companies to look for ways to outsource jobs overseas — a horrific outcome for everyone.”