Why learn IT?

Modern life would be impossible without technology. Technology is central to the way we access information, communicate, work, and entertain ourselves. However, the technology that drives so many aspects of life depends on IT experts to create and maintain it. These experts fill a diverse number of roles and are some of the most in-demand professionals in the current job market. CompTIA reports that in the United States alone, almost 5.6 million people are employed in tech. Learning IT thus opens up a large number of job options and promises to provide both stability and opportunity in the future.

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IT job market and anticipated growth

Across the country, there is rapid tech growth and a high level of demand for IT experts. Certification and training provider CompTIA issued a recent press release titled, “Latest employment data shows little change in the tech job market, CompTIA analysis finds,” where it details some IT employment trends. It says, “Companies added nearly 184,000 new tech job postings last month, with employers in consulting, finance, manufacturing and technology hardware, software and services among the most active.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also analyzes IT employment in the United States. It says, “Overall employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. About 356,700 openings are projected each year, on average.” Software developers can expect 17% job growth, according to the BLS; computer network architects 13%; database administrators and architects 9%; and information security analysts 33%.

Research also reveals that most IT jobs are associated with relatively high salaries. BLS publishes employment statistics for tech jobs. Most IT salaries are over $100,000.

• Computer and Information Research Scientist: $145,000
• Computer Network Architect: $129,000
• Computer Systems Analyst: $103,000
• Information Security Analyst: $120,000
• Network and Computer Systems Administrator: $95,000
• Software Developer: $130,000

Why IT is a flexible career

IT jobs can be good for people looking for job flexibility because they are more likely to allow remote work and flexible hours. Numerous surveys show that job flexibility is important to workers, and statistics reveal that you’re more likely to find it in IT. For instance, in its press release, CompTIA states, “Hiring for work from home (WFH) positions is holding steady at about 20% of total tech job recruiting.” It says, “On a hiring activity volume basis, the top WFH positions include software developers, IT project managers, data scientists and analysts, tech support specialists, and systems analysts.”

There are numerous benefits associated with remote work. You won’t have the expense, time, and stress associated with a commute. Instead, you can work from a comfortable location of your choosing. You’ll also have more flexibility in your work hours. Many people say that remote work makes it much easier to balance work with other responsibilities and that they find that they can achieve a better work-life balance overall.

Industries you can work in with IT skills

The tech scene encompasses a wide variety of different industries. No matter what field you’re interested in working in, you’re likely to find an opportunity in IT. IT experts work in finance, education, healthcare, entertainment, software development, security, business, marketing, and many other industries. In an Indeed article titled “IT Skills: Definitions and Examples,” the authors explain that most modern businesses rely on IT for their daily operations. They insist, “The technology revolution has made information technology skills, or IT skills, essential in almost every industry.” 

IT skills can also equip you for career changes in the future. While you might not currently have plans to change careers, many surveys show that doing so is common. For example, according to a recent CompTIA article, “Top 9 Reasons to Work in Tech,” the average American worker changes jobs 12 times. Since IT skills can be applied to many different industries, having them makes it easier to transition to a different job. 

In its Future of Jobs Report 2025, the World Economic Forum maintains that in the future, many of the most in-demand jobs will be IT-related. In an article titled “Future of Jobs Report 2025: The jobs of the future – and the skills you need to get them,” which summarizes the report, the author states, “Technological skills are projected to grow in importance more rapidly than any other skills in the next five years.”

Many IT workers say that they love the way that IT skills are so versatile because they add interest and variety to their lives. CompTIA stresses, “One of the major benefits of working in tech is that the field is ever-evolving, with many technology careers to choose from. Tech innovation, evolving tech roles, and new technologies mean your job will never be boring. You also may be able to learn new skills and level up into new tech job opportunities.”

IT offers an opportunity to be creative

While IT has a reputation as a very technical field, IT experts explain that there is also a surprising amount of creativity involved. Many different IT jobs involve utilizing technology to create user-friendly solutions to problems, and that requires that you be creative. For instance, you might need to be creative to come up with a new solution to a security challenge or to create a website that is intuitive for users. In fact, the field of IT requires constant creativity because you’ll always be using technology to create new things. This is one reason why IT has appealed to veterans transitioning into civilian careers. Many find that their problem-solving experience translates well into this kind of work. There are also many IT classes for veterans who want to learn new skills and apply their creative thinking in the tech field.

Why IT skills are valuable for the future job market

Overall, there are many benefits to learning IT. The World Economic Forum publishes job analyses, including “Future of Jobs Report 2025.” It says, “Technological skills are projected to grow in importance more rapidly than any other skills in the next five years.” If you’re ready to become an IT professional, many different class options are available, including both in-person and online options.