Intel, Google and Microsoft are among the larger Silicon Valley firms that continue to add to staff. Google's been looking for Unix systems applications administrators, Intel has openings for analog engineers, application developers, computer-aided design engineers, component designers, software engineers and systems analysts. At Microsoft's Mountain View and Palo Alto facilities, the search was on for software development engineers, test engineers, and network engineers.

Despite Layoffs, Silicon Valley Jobs Were Up in 2010

High tech continues to set the pace for the fledgling recovery, even if nationwide improvements are like an attempt to build a campfire with wet wood. Through November, the San Jose metropolitan area reported the second best year-to-year job growth in California, behind Orange County. Over the past year, computer and electronics manufacturers added 6,400 positions, while the information sector added 1,000. That's the good news from the latest figures reported by the state Employment Development Department. The not-so-great news is that during November, unemployment was up slightly in the region, with a jobs decline of 7.2 percent for the month compared to a year ago. The overall trend, though, tends to be positive. Companies of all sizes are looking for tech professionals with particular skills. In greatest demand are Web designers, social media specialists, cloud computing designers, and mobile computing and applications architects. -- Doug Bartholomew