Big IT Hiring Sprees Boost Reston Job Growth

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority provided services to 25 companies that added more than 1,100 jobs in Fairfax County in the second quarter of 2015. More than half of the jobs (595) were in Reston, says the FCEDA.

Among the growth in Reston:

• Walmart Technology, the IT and cybersecurity portion of the large retailer (173 jobs)
• TEKsystems, an IT staffing subsidiary of Allegis Group, the largest privately owned talent management firm in the world (324 jobs)
• Canvas Solutions, software (35 jobs)
• Datapipe, security and IT services (35 jobs)
• Drainage and Erosion Solutions, construction (10 jobs)
• Lookout Inc., mobile cybersecurity (9 jobs)
• Vrid, ecommerce (5 jobs)
• Washington First Bank, banking (4 jobs)

Janis Parker Moore, senior HR manager for Walmart Technology, said locating an office in Reston is a strategic move to take advantage of the skill set of local employees.

“Today, one of the largest technology-based challenges exists in the retail sector, and Walmart is actively recruiting the world’s best STEM-specialized talent that will help the company make this historic pivot,” she said. “Our Reston office in Fairfax County is an extension of that effort, drawing upon the industry leading talent in the surrounding areas to help grow expertise and best-in-class technologies.”

Gerald Gordon, president and CEO of the FCEDA, agrees.

“The announcements by Walmart Technology, TEKsystems and Intelsat (109 jobs in Tysons Corner) illustrate how market leaders in diverse technology sectors look to Fairfax County to find the workforce and the partners they need to be successful, ” Gordon said in a statement. “This is what makes Fairfax County a market leader as a business location, most notably for IT and professional services firms.”