The Informational Technology Workforce: Trends and Implications 2005-2008

In 2005, a team of researchers sponsored by the Society for Information Management Advocacy program interviewed senior executives in Information Technology (IT) departments about their current and future workforce trends and skill requirements. This paper presents the results of that research: more organizations are increasing their in-house IT staffs than are decreasing them. IT executives say it is critical to own business and project management skills, and they seek these skills in their mid-level hires. The use of offshore workers is increasing, primarily through domestically headquartered providers. Technical skills are more likely to be externally sourced, but they are also sought in entry-level hires. The study points out the challenge of transforming technically skilled entry-level hires into mid-level IT managers with strong business and project management skills, given current IT recruiting and hiring trends. It also highlights the need for practitioner-academic collaboration to ensure appropriate development of IT professionals throughout their careers.