Research Triangle, NC – More than 14,000 IT and business professionals worldwide who participated in Global Knowledge’s 10th annual IT Skills and Salary Survey confirmed that individuals and organizations benefit from IT certification; participants identified increased productivity and earning potential, fewer skills gaps and faster troubleshooting as benefits of certification.

This year, the scope of the IT Skills and Salary Report was expanded to include IT professionals in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Key findings of Global Knowledge’s IT Skills and Salary Survey include:

• Skills gaps are a concern
  • More than two-thirds of IT decision-makers reported a gap between skill levels and knowledge needed to meet goals; they identified an insufficient investment in skills development and training as a primary reason for gaps. These gaps can result in increased employee stress; lower likelihood of meeting quality objectives; delays in product and service development and in hardware and software deployment; and lost revenue.
• Certifications pay
  • The majority of IT decision-makers indicated that the cost of certification is recouped through increased productivity, faster troubleshooting and fewer skills gaps. In addition, certified IT professionals worldwide earned significantly more than their non-certified peers; certified IT decision makers in North America earn an average of 8.9% more than their non-certified peers; in Latin America and EMEA the difference is 10% and 13% respectively. Survey participants also indicated a correlation between certification and job security and satisfaction.
• Cloud computing and cybersecurity skills are in demand
  • Organizations’ priorities are cloud computing, cybersecurity and virtualization; at the same time, IT decision-makers are challenged to find qualified professionals in those areas. The growing demand for professionals in these areas can mean higher salaries. Individuals working in cybersecurity report the highest overall salaries; the average global salary is $87,580. Those working in cloud computing round out the top five, with an average global salary of $75,365.

“Responses confirmed that skills gaps exist and organizations are having trouble filling positions; these issues are exacerbated by the faster pace at which individuals and organizations are required to adopt new technologies. At the same time, training was identified as a way to address skills gaps and related issues,” said Greg Timpany, Senior Market Research Manager.

“The typical IT product lifecycle continues to shrink and the skills gap continues to widen. Organizations can't buy their way out of this problem; they have to look inward to embark on an IT skills transformation," said Global Knowledge President and Chief Executive Officer Sean Dolan. "As the global market leader in IT training, Global Knowledge is committed to supporting our customers' and partners' ever-evolving development needs, while also expanding our ability to present and deliver training in a way that uniquely resonates with their stakeholders around the world."

Download the Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Survey Report

About Global Knowledge
Global Knowledge is the worldwide leader in IT training and learning services. We empower organizations, teams and individuals with the skills and best practices necessary to leverage the technologies and competencies critical for sustained success and to create competitive advantages. With over 15 corporate offices around the world, our 1,500 employees are helping clients succeed in over 100 countries. 

Contact
Marie Maguire, Marketing Communications Manager, +1 (919) 463-7405