"These slumping numbers are in contrast to 2009, when average starting IT salaries increased by 3.7% from the prior year. And the bountiful harvest of 2008 enjoyed a robust 5.3% increase over 2007.
"If you’re seeking sunshine in the IT job market, realize that unemployment remains relatively low in the tech field. Moreover, the 2010 IT Salary Guide, published by Robert Half Technology, indicates that several IT skills remain in solid demand. These include network administration (where cloud computing and SaaS are boosting the complexity), virtualization, applications and Web development, and (as always) help desk and desktop support.
"Particularly hot is information security, identified by 45% of CIOs in a Robert Half survey as an area of investment – which should drive hiring. Other tech areas that are top-of-mind among hiring CIOs are datacenter efficiency (a good buzzword to use at your next interview) at 28%, VoIP, 26%; SaaS, 20%, and Green IT, 20%.
"Another ray of hope: in its November 2009 newsletter, the IT job site Dice reported that tech job openings have risen in the two largest markets, New York and Silicon Valley. Smaller markets such as Charlotte and Austin are also gaining ground, with Dice reporting increases in job postings of 45 percent and 31 percent, respectively, from January 2009. And customers are searching the Dice resume database more frequently than at any time this year."
