High Tech and Small Business in Demand


small business

Software and IT-related firms: here’s some good news. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 of the 10 fastest-growing occupations in this decade will be technology based.

Here is the list of where the new jobs will be:

1. Computer software engineers, applications — 380,000 jobs
2. Computer support specialists — 490,000 jobs
3. Computer software engineers, systems software — 284,000 jobs
4. Network and computer systems administrators — 187,000 jobs
5. Network systems and data communications analysts — 92,000 jobs
6. Desktop publishers — 25,000 jobs
7. Database administrators — 70,000 jobs
8. Personal- and home-care aides — 258,000 jobs
9. Computer systems analysts — 258,000 jobs
10. Medical assistants — 187,000 jobs

But–as a report on MSN Money points out, this demand for high tech may be offset by the trend in high tech jobs moving offshore, to places like India. Click here to read more.

So, if there is demand for high tech, but it is moving offshore, then where is the opportunity for enterprising Americans?

According to the article, one source of export-proof jobs may be in small businesses. Even though payroll figures suggest 1.1 Million jobs were lost since 2001, another set of figures–measuring household employment–shows a gain of 1.4 Million jobs.

Why the discrepancy? Well, the payroll numbers don’t pick up self-employed and very small, entrepreneurial businesses. The household tallies do, and they paint a picture of how America is being employed these days. More and more, it is in small and entrepreneurial businesses.

One takeaway: marry the demand for high tech with the trend for ever smaller businesses, and maybe that’s where the opportunity for some enterprising individuals lies.

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Anita Campbell Anita Campbell is the Founder, CEO and Publisher of Small Business Trends and has been following trends in small businesses since 2003. She is the owner of BizSugar, a social media site for small businesses.

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