IT industry to create 4.4 million jobs, Gartner

 IT industry would see creation of 4.4 million jobs globally by 2015 to support big data, but only one-third of the jobs will be filled because there is not enough talent, according to IT research and advisory firm Gartner.

It also said the IT spending is forecast to surpass $3.7 trillion in 2013, a 3.8 per cent increase from the current year projected spending of $3.6 trillion.



"By 2015, 4.4 million IT jobs globally will be created to support big data, generating 1.9 million IT jobs in the United States," said Peter Sondergaard, Senior Vice-President at Gartner and Global Head of Research.

In addition, every big data-related role in the US will create employment for three people outside of IT, so over the next four years a total of 6 million jobs in the US will be generated by the information economy, Gartner said.

"But there is a challenge. There is not enough talent in the industry. Our public and private education systems are failing us. Therefore, only one-third of the IT jobs will be filled. Data experts will be a scarce, valuable commodity," Sondergaard said.

"IT leaders will need immediate focus on how their organization develops and attracts the skills required. These jobs will be needed to grow your business. These jobs are the future of the new information economy", he added.

Big data creates a new layer in the economy which is all about information, turning information, or data, into revenue. This will accelerate growth in the global economy and create jobs, Gartner said.

"Big data is about looking ahead, beyond what everybody else sees," Sondergaard said.

"You need to understand how to deal with hybrid data, meaning the combination of structured and unstructured data, and how you shine a light on 'dark data.' Dark data is the data being collected, but going unused despite its value", he added.