ICT Has a Growing Job Market

[Shaha Noor]

ICT Has a Growing Job Market
The U.S. Department of Labor (USDL) projected growth rates for employment in the ICT sector trends favorably for the ten-year forecast period. Employment projections in all but one of the identified ICT job categories reflect double-digit percentage increases over that term.

The projected average annual growth rate, relative to the base year, is positive (approximately 2%) across all the major job categories (such as but not limited to  those related to Computer and Mathematics1, Media and Communications2, and Education, Training, and Library Occupations3). These optimistic projections suggest that the Federal Government anticipates a stable, expanding ICT job market over the forecast horizon. Information Security Analysts, for instance, have a 37% job growth outlook for 2012-22. Other ICT sector jobs such as Web Developers are expected to have a 20% increase, Network and Computer Systems Administrators have an expected 12% increase and Medical Records and Health Information Technicians have a projected 22% increase.

This expansion in the ICT sector-job market can be attributed to a variety of robust initiatives being undertaken in the public and private sectors. Retailers are aggressively shifting more of their business online to circumvent high operating costs (e.g., facilities costs, staffing) and to expand customer reach. The accelerated pace at which the Government is introducing regulatory mandates is serving as a catalyst for increased IT spending by organizations to ensure compliance. The financial and banking industry serves as an example of a sector that has come under heightened government scrutiny since its collapse, resulting in increased government mandates and regulations. And finally, social media continues to exert extensive influence in the public and private sector. Trained professionals are constantly in demand to integrate evolving social media tools into the organization's IT ecosystem, and to leverage and optimize social media presence online.

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