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This article was featured in the June, 2006 issue of
the Technology First Magazine.
Dayton, OH
June 19, 2006 -
By Angela Richardson, IT Recruiter,
Roytman Information Services, Inc.
After several years of concern, there are conclusive promising
signs for the future employability and compensation of IT
professionals. The demand for IT talent is finally catching
up with the supply. Although the increase in demand has not
yet resulted in a significant increase in compensation levels,
many predict that is the next step. Those who work in the
IT employment field are relieved to see positive signs after
experiencing the negative effects of the Y2K aftermath, the
bursting of the Tech Bubble, the 9/11 terrorist attacks and
the recent economic recession. All indications are that IT
professionals will begin to see a positive effect on their
wallets, particularly those who are in areas of high demand.
Demand continues to rise
According to the National Association of Computer Consultant
Businesses (NACCB), a national trade association representing
IT staffing and solutions firms, IT employment continued to
fall at the end of 2002 even as the economy was beginning
to show signs of recovery. After some difficult years for
IT professionals, the growth of IT employment picked up markedly
in 2004. By 2005 IT employment returned to pre-recession levels.
The CEO of NACCB, Mark Roberts stated, “I am heartened
by the 2005 employment figures evidencing strong employment
growth in IT.” The recent advances in the IT employment
promise continued growth in 2006.
The National Association of College and Employers (NACE),
a leading source of information about the employment of college
graduates also reports positive findings. According to their
most recent annual survey of colleges and employers, the graduating
class of 2005-06 will experience the best job market seen
in four years. The NACE reports that employers predict a 14.5%
increase in new college graduate hiring for 2006. Computer
Science, Information Sciences, and Computer Engineering are
among the list of top 10 bachelor’s degrees in demand.
Prediction of salary increases
Although the increase in demand for IT professionals is promising,
it has not yet resulted in a rise in salaries. This is evident
on both national and local levels. According to Jena Roytman,
Director of Business Development for the Dayton-based IT recruiting
and consulting company, Roytman Information Services, “The
demand for IT staffing services has been steadily increasing
over the past 18 to 24 months. Companies are finding it more
difficult to fill positions, but they are still resistant
to compromise on the requirements of the position and to increase
compensation levels.” However, the increase in demand
for IT professionals is likely to result in higher compensation
levels particularly for the skills that are in top demand.
It will become imperative for companies interested in retaining
their employees and attracting new ones to not only increase
the salaries, but also offer other benefits, such as flexible
hours, extensive training and desirable telecommuting opportunities.
Hot IT jobs in Dayton and surrounding areas
The two main factors that influence compensation levels are
the location and the requirements of the position. In general,
higher compensation results when the demands of a position
outpace the supply. Currently, some of the most sought after
skills in this area are the following:
- Web applications development (including .NET and Java paths)
- ERP (in particular, Oracle, JD Edwards, SAP, Mapics, etc.)
- IT security (especially related to the Defense industry)
- Software/systems engineering
If you are in a position to obtain or enhance your skills
in any of these areas, you will be the first to see the impact
of salary increases as the competition for IT talent increases.
For others, the fact that the market is improving and demand
continues to be on the rise has positive implications on all
IT professionals.
Angela Richardson is a Recruiting Specialist
at Roytman Information Services, Inc., a Dayton, Ohio-based
provider of Career Placement and Consulting solutions in Information
Technology, Management and Engineering. Established in 1995
the company has been growing consistently in a highly competitive
industry. For additional information please visit http://www.roytmanIS.com
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