Hiring Prospects Brighter for IT Pros

While recent unemployment data remains bleak, IT workers can anticipate more encouraging conditions than their counterparts in other professions. The tech unemployment rate remains below 4 percent, and competition for tech talent continues to escalate, according to a recent survey from Dice.com, an IT employment career site. Positions are staying open for months due to a shortage of qualified applicants, and companies are more willing to boost the compensation equation to land the right candidate. "Technology professionals are the basis for innovation, efficiency and creating an agile workplace," says Tom Silver, senior vice president over North America operations for Dice. "Now is the time to ask for more money. Negotiate hard at the outset of a new job because that initial salary may set the base for the next three years." Nearly 900 hiring managers and recruiters that source, recruit and hire IT professionals took part in the research.