An increasing reliance on information technology, combined with falling prices of computers and related hardware, means that individuals and organizations will continue to turn to computer systems design and related services firms to maximize the return on their investments in equipment and to fulfill their growing computing needs. Such needs include the expansion of electronic commerce, a growing reliance on the Internet, faster and more efficient internal and external communication, and the implementation of new technologies and applications. With increasing global competition and rising costs, organizations must be able to obtain and manage the latest information in order to make business decisions. At the same time, employment growth may be tempered somewhat by an increase in contracting out more routine services abroad, where labor costs are lower, as companies strive to remain competitive. For example, firms have been able to cut costs by shifting more support services operations abroad to countries with highly educated workers who have strong technical skills. However, the trend towards contracting out work will adversely affect employment of only certain types of workers, such as programmers and computer support specialists, because much of the work integrating and designing systems needs to be done onsite.

Within the computer systems design and related services industry, projected growth varies by sector. The demand for networking and the need to integrate new hardware, software, and communications technologies will drive the demand for consulting and integration. A need for more customized applications development and support and services to assist users will drive demand for applications development and facilities support services. And, as more individuals and organizations are conducting business electronically, the importance of maintaining system and network security will increase. Recent events have made society more conscious of the vulnerability of technology and the Internet. The increasing need for security related to information technology will expand employment opportunities for individuals involved in cyberspace security services such as disaster recovery services, custom security programming, and security software installation services.

This increased need for security will help to create more jobs in the computer systems design and related services industry. Security specialists will be employed more often to make judgments on a system's vulnerability. Custom programmers and designers will be asked to help develop new antivirus software, programs, and procedures as preemptive measures to keep "hackers" out and systems virusfree. Therefore, employment of security analysts and consultants with security experience and expertise should rise rapidly.

New growth areas will continue to arise from rapidly evolving technologies and business forces. The expansion of the Internet, the proliferation of Web sites, and "mobile" technology such as wireless Internet have created a demand for a wide variety of new products and services, including online services, network design services, and a range of specialized consulting. For example, the expansion of the wireless Internet, known as WiFi, brings a new aspect of mobility to information technology. This new technology will allow people to stay connected anywhere anytime, in restaurants, shops, hotels, and even on airplanes. As individuals and businesses rely more on more compact, hand-held computers and wireless Internet connections, it will be necessary to integrate the current computer systems with this more mobile new technology. The expansion of this technology in the next 10 years will lead to an increased need for "mobility consultants" or service firms that can help companies design and integrate computer systems so that they will be compatible with one another.

The way the Internet is used is constantly changing, along with the products, services, and personnel required to support new applications. Expanding electronic commerce changed the way companies transact business, enabling markets to expand and an increasing array of services to be provided to customers. And, as the amount of computer-stored information grows, organizations will continue to look for ways to tap the full potential of their vast stores of data. Demand for an even wider array of services should increase as companies continue to expand their capabilities, integrate new technologies, and develop new applications. As there are more innovations and new technology is released, there will be a steady need for computer systems facilities support services to provide assistance to the users.

Given the increasingly widespread use of information technologies and the overall rate of growth expected for the entire industry, most occupations should continue to grow rapidly, although some will do so faster than others. As firms continue to install sophisticated computer networks, set up Internet and intranet sites, and engage in electronic commerce, the most rapid growth will occur among computer specialists such as systems analysts, network and computer systems administrators, computer support specialists, and computer and information systems managers. Employment of programmers should continue to expand, but more slowly than that of other occupations, as the proportion of programmers decreases in relation to other computer specialists.