Harrisburg University Academic Programs are Pathways to Top 5 Fastest Growing IT Jobs

Nov. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- ITCareerFinder recently examined tech job growth rates from leading unbiased employment sources, including the U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics, to identify the fastest growing IT careers for 2012 and beyond.  According to ITCareerFinder, here are the top five fastest growing IT career paths.

1.     Web Developer
Employment for web developers is expected to increase by 53% from 2008 through 2018, placing it among the fastest growing of all occupations. More web developers will be needed to accommodate the increasing amount of data sent over the Internet and the growing number of Internet users. Each year, a record number of businesses brings their offerings to the World Wide Web. As the number of products and services provided online grows, web developers will continue to see increased employment opportunities. Rapid growth of social media and the mobile device market also contribute to increased demand for web developers, as businesses look for web-based solutions to engage customers and gain a competitive advantage in these emerging technologies.

2.     Mobile Application Developer
Employment for mobile application developers and software engineers is expected to increase by at least 32% from 2008 to 2018. Smart phones and tablets are revolutionizing the way we communicate, do business, and access news & entertainment; As mobile devices continue to become increasingly capable and accessible,  the demand for new and innovative applications – and talented mobile developers to create them – will continue to rise. Mobile application development is home to one of the largest skills gaps in the U.S. job market, meaning there are currently more mobile development job openings than skilled developers to fill them.

3.     Video Game Designer
Employment for video game designers and software publishers is expected to increase by 30% from 2008 to 2018, almost 3 times as fast as the 11 percent job growth projected for all industries combined. The multi-billion dollar gaming industry has more than tripled in size over the last decade with no signs of abating. Beyond the growing market for video games on PCs and the major consoles – Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii – the increased sophistication and popularity of emerging handheld & wireless technologies has opened up a new world of employment opportunities for video game designers, developers, and publishers. Game designers with expertise in mobile development & deployment will be particularly in-demand as smartphones and tablets, such as Apple’s iPhone & iPad, continue to change the way video games are accessed and played.

4.     Network Administrator
Employment for network administrators is expected to increase by 23% from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. In challenging economic times, organizations retain and/or hire network and systems administrators to maximize existing network and telecommunications technologies in order to increase efficiency and reduce costs. In periods of economic recovery and expansion, firms invest in new technologies – for instance, the adoption of mobile devices into the corporate infrastructure – which translates to increased demand for systems and network administrators to help businesses integrate, secure, and utilize these new technologies on the corporate network. This consistent  demand for network administrators, independent of economic conditions, has led many employment experts to dub network administration a "recession proof career."

5.     Health Information Technician
Employment for health information technicians is expected to increase by at least 20% from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Flush with federal funds and facing aggressive regulatory deadlines to implement new electronic health record (EHR) systems, medical practices will hire a record-number of health information technicians over the next five years. Widespread use of electronic health records will lead to increased demand for technicians who are skilled and trained in the new duties and responsibilities associated with electronic data management. Also, as the population continues to age and the occurrence of health-related problems increases, specialized health information technicians, such as Cancer Registrars, will experience job growth as the incidence of disease rises in an aging population. The proper accredited training and certification is critical to success in healthcare IT employment.

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various majors and concentrations that can lead to careers in those fields, including:

·         Computer and Information Sciences
·          New Media Design & Production
·         Software Engineering & Analysis
·         Digital Health
·         Information & Communication Technologies
·         Interactive Media Management
·         Information Systems Engineering and Management
·         Advanced Game Development
·         Enterprise Architecture
·         Enterprise Engineering and Management
·         Game Design & Production
·         Health Informatics
·         Information and Communication Technologies
·         Internet Technologies
·         Interactive Media For the Web
·         Managing Software Development Projects
·         3D Modeling and Animation
·         Web Technologies

For more information on how Harrisburg University's 24 undergraduate and 35 graduate programs of study can prepare you for careers, contact Admissions at 717.901.5101 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu  

Founded in 2001 to address Central Pennsylvania’s need for increased opportunities for study leading to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Harrisburg University is an innovative and ambitious private institution that produces graduates who provide increased competence and capacity in science and technology disciplines to Pennsylvania and the nation. Harrisburg University ensures institutional access for underrepresented students and links learning and research to practical outcomes. As a private University serving the public good, Harrisburg University remains the only STEM-focused comprehensive university located between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

For more information on the University's demand-driven undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs in applied science and technology fields, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu

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Established in 2001 to address Central Pennsylvania’s need for increased opportunities for study leading to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Harrisburg University is an innovative and ambitious private institution.