CompTIA Research

Summary of “IT Pros: Maintaining Currency and Relevancy”

Survey Information

This Web-based survey launched on May 2, 2007 in the IT Professional Access electronic newsletter and May 4, 2007 via e-mail and closed on May 14, 2007 with 594 responses. Three-quarters of respondents have one to 15 years of working experience in the IT field, with nearly a third (31%) having five to nine years of experience. Eighty-eight percent are currently employed, and 75 percent are currently employed in IT.

Key Findings

Most respondents (86%) choose the training they need based on their own career plan. Five percent choose based on their employer’s requirements or recommendations, while two percent are told by their employers what they need to take.

Many respondents (68%) spend time outside the office to learn new IT skills or study related topics. Of those who do, 32 percent spend one to four hours per week and 18 percent spend 10-14 hours per week. Respondents are fairly split on when they typically spend time learning new IT skills and technology, with 48 percent using their own time and 49 percent learning on both their own time and their employer’s time.

The amount spent on training and education is fairly consistent. Nearly two-thirds (65%) spent $1-1,999 in the last year, and three-quarters plan to spend that much in the next 12 months. On average for the year or next three years, more than two-thirds (68%) plan to spend $1-1,999. Many respondents are also paying for this education and training out of their own pocket – 87
percent pay for their training and certification resources. Forty-six percent indicate that their employers did not pay anything in the past 12 months, 43 percent do not anticipate that their employers will pay anything in the next 12 months, and 41 percent don’t expect their employers to pay anything in the next three years.

But nearly a third of respondents (32%) say their employer pays for their IT training and certification resources, and 30 percent say their employer provides time away from work for IT training and education. The majority (85%) of respondents typically use self-study for IT training/education (a decrease of 7% since last year- 92%). Forty-six percent obtain training through a commercial training provider, an increase of 11 percent from last year, and 25 percent through community college.

More than one-half (59%) of all respondents are currently looking for a new IT job, 10.9 percent with their current employer and 48.5 percent with a new employer. Of those looking for a position with a new employer, nearly a third (31%) say that if their current employer offered more opportunities for advancement, they would consider staying.

Eleven percent of respondents offered comments regarding keeping skills updated. Comments included: “This is an absolute must! No one should accept a skilled IT job with out ongoing training supported by their employer.” “Keeping skills updated is a constant battle with new technologies and languages coming out all the time.” “Need to be able to keep abreast with IT
technology, which at times is too cumbersome. ”

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