Growth seen in most computer job categories

Washington, D.C. - Professional computer-related jobs are expected to grow at a record pace through 2016, but not every category will share in that growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 10-year economic and employment predictions.

The report, released Dec. 4, said network systems and data communications professionals will make up the single fastest-growing occupation between 2006 and 2016. That category will grow by an estimated 53.4 percent, followed closely by computer software applications engineers, whose ranks are expected to rise 44.6 percent in that time span.

Strong growth also is projected in computer systems analysis, 29 percent; computer software engineering, 28 percent; database administration, 27 percent; and network and computer systems administrators, 27 percent.

The news is not as good for computer programmers and computer operators, who were among the occupations with the largest projected declines - 4.1 percent and 24.7 percent, respectively.

Projections issued by the bureau are updated every two years, but remain consistent with labor market forecasts that identify a need to fill more highly skilled, technical jobs. Ed Gordon, author of “The 2010 Meltdown: Solving the Impending Jobs Crisis,” said four million jobs now remain empty, and about half of them are highly skilled jobs that require specialized training and education. The challenge will begin to grow more severe in 2010, when 79 million Baby Boomers begin the leave the workforce.

“Sixty percent of the jobs we have to fill are Boomers that we have to replace,” Gordon said in an interview with WTN.

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