IT PROFESSIONALS ARE IN DEMAND
There are many opportunities for employment in the dynamic, growing field of Information Technology. Thanks to the high demand for skills, driven by the increasing importance of technology to business strategy, IT offers the highest salaries and best advancement opportunities.
Tech Talent Trends
In Northeast Ohio,
- From 2016 – 2019, the IT workforce grew 18% from approximately 39,500 to nearly 47,000 people.
- IT demand over the past 5 years averaged approximately 14,000 open positions, of which about 7,000 are for entry-level IT positions.
- The median salary for all IT positions is $78,165.
Source: Team NEO 2016 – 2020
Nationally, from 2019 – 2029,
- The number of cybersecurity jobs will grow from 131,000 to 172,000, a 31% increase over that time period.
- The number of software developer jobs, currently at over 1.4 million, is expected to grow by 22% with a median salary of $107,000.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Endless Opportunities
There is a myriad of opportunities for career growth in IT, no matter where you start or in which capacity. Unlike most professional disciplines, IT skills provide endless pathways across many IT roles. And, IT provides some of the best careers for lateral and upward mobility so that you can expand professionally.
While software development, network engineering, and computer user support roles continue to dominate demand for skills, IT is ever-changing and creating new roles. For example, over the past few years, Cybersecurity Specialists, Artificial Intelligence Engineers, and Data Scientists have become the top emerging IT careers in Northeast Ohio. Source: Team NEO Aligning Opportunities in Northeast Ohio Report
New uses for using information technology also contribute to the evolution of IT roles and growth in opportunities. Just in the past decade have the following information technology disciplines emerged or matured to significant opportunity:
Artificial Intelligence
(AI) promises to deliver some of the most significant and disruptive innovations that will reshape how we live and work, including disease mapping, self-driving cars and smart assistants.
Internet of Things
(IoT) will change how we live and work as more devices across the globe become interconnected, sensing traffic, temperature, intrusions, and similar events.
Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality
Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality, collectively referred to as reality technologies that provide immersive experiences, are the newest media technologies to become accessible to the general public.
Blockchain
Blockchain, a distributed ledger technology (DLT) that offers a secure way of recording and verifying a high volume of digital transactions, is now spreading across a wave of industries. Among other things, Blockchain is the technology that enables the existence of cryptocurrency.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency, a digital medium of exchange that is encrypted and decentralized, has the potential to enable social and economic growth throughout the world.
Cellular Communications
5G technology explores new ways to manage cellular networks, providing opportunities to deliver groundbreaking solutions that reach across society.
Of great importance, new public-private partnerships are focused on accelerating IT talent development to meet growing demand, particularly among the underserved and underemployed populations. These partnerships are opening opportunities for a more diverse and equitable IT labor force.
The tech industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 11% growth rate from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.