{"id":26272,"date":"2017-10-26T09:50:57","date_gmt":"2017-10-26T16:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=26272"},"modified":"2017-10-26T09:50:57","modified_gmt":"2017-10-26T16:50:57","slug":"life-in-tech-comptia-checks-pulse-of-it-professionals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/news\/2017\/10\/life-in-tech-comptia-checks-pulse-of-it-professionals\/","title":{"rendered":"Life in Tech: CompTIA Checks Pulse of IT Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Downers Grove, IL (Oct. 23, 2017)<\/em> \u2014 Job satisfaction among information technology (IT) professionals is increasing, with heightened interest in cybersecurity and opportunities for more training and networking, according to a report released today by CompTIA, the leading IT industry association.<\/p>\n

A net 79 percent of IT pros are satisfied with their jobs, the report \u201cEvaluating IT Workforce Needs\u201d finds. That\u2019s up from 73 percent in 2015.<\/p>\n

Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) feel their job provides them with a sense of personal accomplishment; while 71 percent believe their job makes good use of their talents.<\/p>\n

A majority of the 820 IT professionals surveyed (51 percent) express an interest in working on cybersecurity-related issues, well ahead of other cutting-edge issues such as the Internet of Things (30 percent) and artificial intelligence or machine learning (20 percent).<\/p>\n

But the results also sound some cautionary notes that could impact the industry\u2019s ability to fill the millions of tech jobs expected to be available through 2024. For example, nearly one-quarter of respondents say they are concerned about their skills becoming obsolete.<\/p>\n

Another major issue for the future of tech jobs is what CompTIA has identified as a \u201cconfidence gap,\u201d where the lack of diversity in the tech industry has many potential workers thinking that a career in tech is not for them.<\/p>\n

Among women IT pros surveyed, 34 percent say they ended up in an IT role after working in non-IT jobs. This finding aligns with earlier CompTIA research, which found that though boys and girls generally use technology in about equal numbers, girls and young women have less access to information about careers in the technology field. That includes opportunities for classroom instruction; through encouragement about career options from parents; and by the lack of access to female role models who work in the tech industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tech industry\u2019s challenge is America\u2019s challenge: developing a robust workforce that can effectively fill the IT jobs of the 21st century, whether those jobs are in cybersecurity, IoT, AI or some new technology that\u2019s still to come,\u201d said Nancy Hammervik, executive vice president, industry relations at CompTIA.<\/p>\n

To close the confidence gap, help recruit new tech workers and expand the skills of current IT pros, CompTIA this summer launched the CompTIA Association of Information Technology Professionals. CompTIA AITP offers national resources, such as job searches and online courses, coupled with local chapters to provide networking and mentoring for those looking to start or jumpstart a career in tech.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the United States alone, we expect 1.8 million tech workers to join the labor force through 2024,\u201d Hammervik said. \u201cWe need to attract and recruit a diverse workforce of individuals, with and without college degrees, and support them in their career growth. CompTIA AITP is a big part of the solution for closing the confidence gap and filling the pipeline of tech professionals for today and tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the three months since its launch, CompTIA AITP\u2019s membership of tech professionals, students and educators has reached nearly 5,000 individuals.<\/p>\n

CompTIA\u2019s \u201cEvaluating IT Workforce Needs\u201d report underscores the value of professional groups and resources to career development.<\/p>\n