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InfoQ Homepage News 2012 - Boom Times Are Back

2012 - Boom Times Are Back

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Need a new year's resolution? How about looking for a new job? According to CIO magazine and Computerworld the information technology job market made a significant turnaround in 2011. Some estimates show the number of IT positions in the United States rose by 12% this past year and 2012 is expected to be even better.

A Dice.com survey showed that 65% of hiring managers expected to add IT professionals in 2012. The current unemployment rate in the IT field stands at 2.7%. That's significantly below the U.S. National unemployment rate of 8.6%, according to Reuters and below the 3-4% figure often cited by the U.S. Labor Department as “full employment”. Further, the Dice.com survey pointed out that hiring managers felt layoffs were a fairly remote possibility.

Marketwatch raises another point which may be fueling this latest technology employment trend: the emergence of IT as a true business and strategic partner in leading, non-technology, companies and organizations. According to Markewatch:  

In short, salary costs per worker are headed higher, both for engineers and for sales staff with technical experience. Job opportunities abound for these prospects because their skills are in strong demand, as information technology becomes an ever-more important part of strategic planning for corporations 

With expected continuing strength in the IT market it's natural to wonder whether it's time to go. But money is only one factor in making a career move and, according to some HR professionals, it's usually the least cited reason. More common reasons for making a jump, according to a Right Management survey:
 

1. Downsizing or restructuring (54%)
2. Sought new challenges or opportunities (30%)
3. Due to ineffective leadership (25%)
4. Poor relationship with manager (22%)
5. To improve work/life balance (21%)
6. Contributions were not valued (21%)
7. Better compensation and benefits (18%)
8. Better alignment of personal and organizational values (17%)
9. Personal strengths and capabilities weren't a good fit (16%)
10. Company was financially unstable (13%)
11. Company or job relocated (12%)

 

So what are our reader's thoughts? How is the IT market in your area? 

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