A career in computing or IT can be more secure than other industries during periods of economic turbulence. Careers author and adviser Sarah Berry said these types of jobs are "more credit crunch-proof" than other sectors because IT-related companies often look in-house to develop talent, while having a more direct route to customers through ecommerce. With the global economic slowdown, she added that "perhaps now is the time" for people thinking about studying for a qualification in IT-related fields such as web design or programming to seek out training. According to the US Department of Labor, the number of job opportunities in computing careers - including web hosting, data processing and software engineering - are expected to experience "rapid" growth over the coming years. Software engineering in particular is forecast to be one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country between 2006 and 2016, growing by 38 per cent - equal to around 324,000 new jobs. As a result, the DOL predicts "excellent" job prospects in the sector for candidates with relevant qualifications and practical work experience. In May 2006, the average salary for software engineers was $79,780, with variations determined by location, job type and field of expertise.  |