Workforce Trends - Computer Technology

One of the fastest growing industries today is the computer technology field, particularly if you are looking for work as a network systems and data communications analyst.

Employment statistics show that this area is expected to have great growth in upcoming years. In 2004, there were 231,300 network systems and data communications analysts in the United States. By 2014, that number is projected to rise to 357,500 - a 55 percent increase - creating an average of 15,340 job openings per year.

Additionally, this type of work is very lucrative. The median wage for network systems and data communications analysts in the U.S. in 2005 was $29.69 per hour or $61,900 annually with the top 10 percent making over $98,600 per year.

In 2005, the states with highest median wage for this top of job were Massachusetts ($74,000), New Jersey ($72,100), Virginia ($69,700), New York ($68,800) and Minnesota ($68,700).

If you are considering entering the computer technology field, education and skills training is a must. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 59.7 percent of network systems and data communications analysts between the ages of 25 and 44 years-old have a Bachelor's degree or even higher education.

Skills training and certification in a variety of computer software applications is also a must. These include administration software, such as Cisco Systems CiscoWorks and Citrix MetaFrame, configuration management software, network monitoring software, virtual private network management software, system vulnerability assessment software and virus protection software.