If you’re lucky enough to be a network systems or data communications analyst, 2008 should be a good year for finding a job, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (aka BLS). By 2016, jobs for these positions are projected to have increased by 53.4% since 2006. Likewise, computer systems analysts, computer software application engineers, system software engineers, and database administrators will fare well during the next few years, according to the BLS.
Those predictions are largely supported by a second survey from staffing firm Robert Half Technology (www.roberthalftechnology.com), which identifies the top IT job areas in 2008 as networking, help desk and support, and applications development. The specific IT skills most in demand are Windows administration, network administration, database management, firewall administration, and wireless network management.
Many of those "hot" IT jobs are tied to businesses' concerns over their IT infrastructure—the uptime and performance of the network, the servers, and the major software platforms, says Brian Hoffman, an IT recruiter for staff placement firm Winter, Wyman (www.winter
wyman.com). “Even the smallest company knows that the platform and infrastructure is critical stuff. They can’t afford to have the Web site go down or have EDI [Electronic Data Interchange] or ecommerce capabilities be compromised,” he says. “We see steady heat in computer systems and networks because there are never enough good people to handle all of the needs that organizations have as they try to stabilize and standardize their platforms.”
Jim Lanzalotto, vice president at Yoh Services (www.yoh.com), a talent and services outsourcing firm, says experienced SAP professionals, or others with knowledge of enterprise software platforms such as Oracle, will be in demand in 2008. Demand for SAP, Oracle, and other major ERP platform expertise is due to the pervasiveness of those types of applications throughout the enterprise, as well as the need to constantly update and integrate the various components of these massive platforms, says Lanzalotto.
“Pure infrastructure ERP experience will always be a big part of the market but so will knowledge of point solutions like CRM or supply chain software,” he says.
IT Project Management Always In Demand
One job category not mentioned in the BLS survey, IT project management, is in high demand and will continue to be in demand for the foreseeable future, says Lanzalotto. “Project management is a non-offshoreable skill. It’s such a hot skill right now it’s unbelievable because you need project managers to pull all of this stuff together.”
Lanzalotto’s definition of a project manager involves enterprise-wide program management, not simply being a lead supervisor on a point project. And to reap the benefits of being a project manager, a person has to be certified by the PMI (Project Management Institute).
“Certification is key in the tech space,” he says. “And so is the ability to understand business. I’ve seen people who have been cross-pollinated between business and technology do very well. That’s critical as far as I’m concerned.”
The rising demand for project managers who understand both business and IT is due to the growing communications gap between business executives and IT professionals—a gap that makes planning projects and creating strategy difficult. “Technology is an intrinsic part of the business. We’re an SAP shop, for instance, and it makes it much easier for us to have someone who speaks the SAP language be on the business team,” he explains. “The best CIOs I’ve seen have not been technology guys but a mix.”
Industry Plays A Role In IT Employment
Aside from the technical niche you’re in, the specific industry sector where you work will have a major impact on your job prospects, says Lanzalotto.
“We’re learning that demand is not geographically driven nor skill-set driven but more sector driven. If you’re in the mortgage business, for instance, or construction or housing business, it doesn’t matter how great you are. But if you’re working in the gaming industry, that’s a good place to be,” he explains.
According to the BLS survey, the fastest growing industry sectors in terms of wage and salaried employment are health care and professional/business service. The industries experiencing a decline are manufacturing, natural resources and mining, and the federal government.
Overall, Lanzalotto expects slightly slower job growth in 2008. “2007 was a very strong year with some growth rates in the mid-single digits quarter by quarter. I think it will be in the lower single digits this year but still fairly strong.”
by Sue Hildreth
Projected Hiring Activity 2008
According to a survey of 1,400 CIOs conducted by Robert Half Technology, IT hiring will remain steady in early 2008.
• 82% expected to have no change in their IT hiring plans
• 13% planned to increase IT hiring
• 3% said they’d decrease IT hiring
• 2% said they didn’t know
SOURCE: ROBERT HALF TECHNOLOGY
Growth Industries For 2008 & Beyond
Industry matters almost as much as job specialty, say IT recruiting experts. Here, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, are the best industries for IT people to work in now through 2016.
• Management, scientific, and technical consulting services (5.9% annual growth)
• Individual and family services (5.7% annual growth)
• Home healthcare services (4.5% annual growth)
• Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities (3.9% annual growth)
• Facilities support services (3.8% annual growth)
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