IT to generate 5.8 million new jobs by 2013: IDC

Information technology will be an employment machine, generating 5.8 million new jobs in the coming four years, according to International Data Corporation (IDC) research released Sunday.

IDC predicts that the IT industry will be an engine powering economies out of economic doldrums, creating more that 75,000 new businesses in the next four years and adding jobs at a rate of 3 percent annually.

"Countries that foster innovation and invest in infrastructure, education and skills development for their citizens will have a major competitive advantage in the global marketplace," said Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer.

"In this fundamental economic reset, innovative technologies will play a vital role in driving productivity gains and enabling the creation of new local businesses and highly skilled jobs that fuel economic recovery and support sustainable economic growth."

US software colossus Microsoft sponsored the IDC research into the impact of IT in 52 countries that represent 98 percent of the global IT spending.

"IT spending growth is a good sign as we come out of the recession," Microsoft Corporate Affairs communications manager Scott Selby told AFP.

Employment growth in IT related jobs will be three times that of overall job growth in what Selby said is a "good driver of economic growth."

While the world has been in the gripes of a recession, it has also been in the midst of a "technology renaissance" flush with advances in software, devices, and Internet-based services, according to IDC.

IDC expects IT spending in the countries studied to grow at slightly more than three percent annually, three times as fast as the gross domestic products between now and the year 2013.

In what is good news for software powerhouse Microsoft, spending on software is predicted to grow faster than overall IT spending, rising 4.8 percent annually.

"Software is a driving force behind this IT growth," Selby said. "IT allows us to do more with less."

New technologies are also ushering in a new "cloud computing" paradigm in which applications are provided online as services instead of as software bought and installed on home or office machines, according to IDC.

Money saved by using software as needed "in the cloud" instead of buying, maintaining, and updating applications will likely be devoted to bringing new products or services to market faster and cheaper, according to Selby.

IDC estimates that cloud services could add 800 billion dollars in net new business revenues between the end of 2009 and the end of 2013.

"Over the past 20 years, we've seen transformative power in how investments in IT innovations foster economic growth," said Robert D. Atkinson, founder of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation in Washington, D.C.

"Continued innovation and investment in information technology will help jump-start recovery from the current recession and will significantly contribute to the growth of employment and new businesses."

Emerging markets will reap the greatest economic gains from IT, according to Selby.

"Emerging markets are really going to take advantage of IT for years to come," Selby said.

"One reason is they will be able to leapfrog and enjoy benefits of innovations like cloud computing much more quickly."

Microsoft played up the prime role its software is playing in IT systems worldwide.

Pursuing a career in IT requires passion for the job

This was revealed by technology career expert Ms. Gina S. Duminy.

"IT is an ever changing field and we should try to erase this misconception that it is exclusively for those who understand its jargon. That is not always the case," Ms. Duminy told students at the 7th Philippine Youth Congress in Information Technology (Y4iT) in UP Diliman last week.

Ms. Duminy, president and CEO of itprosasia.com, an online career resource for technology professionals, said that the field is a "multifaceted discipline" focused on providing business solutions.

"IT is a challenge in organizing people, solving issues and problems through better process and organization. Its emphasis is on business problem solving," she said.

Ms. Duminy, a European languages graduate, outlined career options for future IT professionals, which include business operations, database development and administration, security and compliance, networking design and administration, technical support, and Web development and administration, among others.

Aside from career growth, a good compensation package is also in store for these professionals.

Research firm ZDNet Asia in 2008 through its "IT Salary Benchmark Philippines" showed that the country’s top five IT skills received salaries ranging from P495,000 to P600,000 a year on average.

The following fields are: application development, desktops/software, Web development, database management, and systems administration.

The continued growth in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector is also an indication that the demand for IT professionals is increasing, said Ms. Duminy.

An official from the Business Processing Association of the Philippines said in a separate interview that the local outsourcing sector planned to corner at least 10% of the global BPO-IT market by 2010.

For that matter, Ms. Duminy told students to improve on their craft, master at least three competency skills in IT and avoid being a "jack of all trades, master of none."

"IT is exciting. The technology profession presents limitless opportunities for those who want to excel. This profession entails continuous acquisition of new skills and learning... you have to work hard at it," she added.

Ms. Duminy said that it is sometimes hard to screen fresh graduates due to their similar backgrounds, but what makes one stand out are the training and skills acquired in college.

Still, she said that a passion for the job is key.

"Pursue what you are good at and that should be accompanied with discipline, an openness to learn and good communication skills," she said.

IT careers ‘rewarding,’ says expert

YOU NEED not be a graduate of a computer course to land a job in the expanding field of information technology (IT), according to a technology career expert.

"IT is an ever-changing field and we should try to erase this misconception of seeing this profession [as being] exclusive to those who understand its jargon, and that it’s boring. It is not always the case," Gina S. Duminy told students at the 7th Philippine Youth Congress in Information Technology at the University of the Philippines in Diliman yesterday.

"It is wrong to generalize that IT professionals are techie gear heads with little interest in anything outside of technology. We also pursue other interests and hobbies," she added.

Ms. Duminy, president of itprosasia.com, an online career resource for technology professionals, explained that the field is a "multifaceted discipline" that is focused in providing business solutions, adding that an ideal IT professional "is somebody who understands business."

"IT is a challenge in organizing people, solving issues and problems through better process and organization. Its emphasis is on business problem solving."

Ms. Duminy also outlined career options for future IT professionals, which include business operations, database development and administration, security and compliance, networking design and administration, technical support, and Web development and administration.

Aside from career growth, the field offers a good compensation package. Research firm ZDNet Asia’s "IT Salary Benchmark Philippines" report last year said the country’s top five IT skills received salaries ranging from P495,000 to P600,000 a year on average. These are: application development, desktops/software, web development, database management, and systems administration.

The continued growth in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector is also an indication that demand for IT professionals is increasing, said Ms. Duminy. The Business Processing Association of the Philippines expects to corner at least 10% of the global outsourcing and IT market by 2010.

She reminded students to improve on their craft and master at least three competency skills in IT. A student should avoid being a "jack of all trades, master of none."

"This profession entails continuous acquisition of new skills and learning. You have to work hard at it."

She noted that it is sometimes hard to screen fresh graduates applying for a job due to their similar backgrounds. But what makes one stand out from the others are training and skills they acquired in college, she said.

"It shows how diligent and dedicated a student is to the field. If he has undergone good skills training then it would be a plus Employers have their own set of expectations depending on what the business is all about, the goals, the competency requirements for the job, among others."

"Still, the minimum is passion. Pursue [things] you are good at. That should be accompanied with discipline, openness to learn, and good communication skills," she said.

Iloilo IT Week to highlight ICT jobs, biz prospects

The 4th Iloilo Information Technology (IT) Week on September 28-30 will highlight jobs and business prospects in the field of booming Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry.

This year’s theme, “Facing Global Challenges through I.T.,” focuses on the opportunities for employment and economic advancement brought about by the ICT sector. The three-day event will feature exhibits, lectures, competitions and jobs fair.

The Iloilo Federation for Information Technology (IFIT) in cooperation with the city and provincial governments and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Iloilo) will spearhead the IT Week activities at Robinsons Place here.

The Iloilo IT Week is an annual event that brings together schools, business and government to celebrate the development of the ICT industry.

IFIT is a non-stock and not-for-profit organization founded in 2006 to develop the ICT sector in Iloilo through an active collaboration of the triumvirate of academe-government-industry. It seeks to help transform Iloilo into an ICT investment destination and major ICT and IT-enabled services (ITES) hub through proactive intervention in human resource development.

Dr. Adrian Arcelo, head of IFIT research team will present in the afternoon of September 28 the result of the Iloilo ICT Human Resource Survey conducted by IFIT and funded by the provincial government and DTI-Iloilo.

Dr. Gregg Gabison of Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (CEDF-IT) will also present the Philippine Information Technology General Certification Exam (Phil-IT GCE). It is the first certification exam for IT graduates adopted by IFIT to ensure that they master IT upon graduation. It also serves as a benchmarking tool for schools to determine areas of improvement in their ICT curriculum.

Meanwhile, ICT lectures include:

1. “Taking Your Business Online” in the morning of September 29 by Mr. Ramon Lizardo, president of the Philippine Internet Commerce Society and director of Yehey.com;
2. “Freelance 101: Turning Passion to Profit – Blogging from Home” by Ms. Janette Toral, professional writer/blogger, search engine optimization (SEO) consultant and producer of digitalfilipino.com;
3. “Alternative Income Opportunities on the Internet” by Ms. Aileen Apolo, consultant for the Philippines of Google; and
4. “Green ICT for Sustainable Future: ICT Environmental Sustainable Practices” by Ms. Beau Baconguis of Greenpeace, all in the afternoon of September 29; and
5. “Packaging Yourself for Success: How to Make Great First Impressions” by ePLDT Ventus; and
6. “Don’t English Me, I’m Panic: The Importance of English Proficiency for Work” by Ms. Zsa Zsa Bacaling, marketing communications manager of Callbox, Inc., both in the morning of September 30.

The IT Quiz and Jingle Contest will be conducted in the afternoon of September 30.