Hot Jobs: Systems Analyst
Computer systems analysts analyze, evaluate and modify existing or proposed systems and related devices. They coordinate with users to ensure timely and efficient manufacturer's software release installation. Systems analysts may plan and develop new computer systems or devise ways to apply existing systems’ resources to additional operations.
Employment
Computer systems analysts held about 487,000 jobs in 2004; about 28,000 were self-employed. The greatest concentration of these workers is in the computer systems design and related services industry. Computer systems analysts are also employed by governments, insurance companies, financial institutions, Internet service providers, data processing services firms, and universities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a large number of systems analysts are employed on a temporary or contract basis. For example, a company installing a new computer system may need the services of several systems analysts just to get the system running. Because not all of the analysts would be needed once the system is functioning, the company might contract for such employees with a consulting firm. Such jobs may last from several months up to 2 years or more. This allows companies to bring in people with the exact skills they need to complete a project, instead of having to spend time and money training or retraining existing workers.
Job Outlook According to the BLS
Employment of computer systems analysts is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014 as organizations continue to adopt and integrate increasingly sophisticated technologies. Job increases will be driven by very rapid growth in computer system design and related services, which is projected to be among the fastest growing industries in the U.S. economy. In addition, many job openings will arise annually from the need to replace workers who move into managerial positions or other occupations or who leave the labor force. Job growth will not be as rapid as during the previous decade, however, as the information technology sector begins to mature and as routine work is increasingly outsourced to lower-wage foreign countries.
Increasingly, more sophisticated and complex technology is being implemented across all organizations, which should fuel the demand for these computer occupations. There is a growing demand for system analysts to help firms maximize their efficiency with available technology. Expansion of electronic commerce—doing business on the Internet—and the continuing need to build and maintain databases that store critical information on customers, inventory, and projects are fueling demand for database administrators familiar with the latest technology.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Computer Systems Analysts, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos287.htm (visited April 13, 2006).
