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D.C.'s IT job market expands beyond Federal goverment |
By Jim Battey |
The Washington Post's Sunday classified section is filled with page after page of want ads for technology-related positions, signaling a healthy IT job market in the nation's capital.
The region's robust market can largely be attributed to the nation's economy, the success of local telecommunications companies, and a high demand for professional and legal services. Plus, the Washington area does not rely on the federal government for jobs as much as in the past, although the government does contribute more than $12 billion in procurement and contracting to the local economy.
"This is the best market I ever recall seeing" says Cecilia Brickerd, president of The Employment Network, in Washington.
Brickerd says help desk and support personnel are the ones particularly in demand.
Not only is the nation's capital thriving, Maryland and northern Virginia are also enjoying a surge in high-tech employment. In addition, approximately two-thirds of all jobs in Washington are held by Maryland and Virginia residents.
"There are more jobs than people to fill them' says Ed Wallach, executive vice president of Wallach Associates, in Rockville, Md. "Supply is way down and demand for qualified people is way up.'
Wallach reports a high demand for software engineers and IT managers well-versed in communications, networking, business transactions, and the Internet. He points to government outsourcing of major technology contracts as a significant boon to the Washington-area economy.
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