Colloquium Kicks Off in Chicago

The tremendous advancements in IT are driving new opportunities for the certification and training industry, from healthcare IT and cloud computing to data storage and IT security. There’s a natural relationship between the end-user demand for these services and their suppliers: service providers and other technology firms. Despite the down economy and related hurdles that slowed certifications and training over the past couple of years, the industry outlook for 2011 is rosy—primarily due to these latest technology drivers.

“While 2008 and 2009 were a challenge to many training organizations and accreditations in general, the industry growth projections are encouraging,” says Terry Erdle, executive vice president of skills certification for CompTIA, during the kickoff at CompTIA Colloquium in Chicago today. 

Some estimates suggest there are more than 600,000 IT job openings in the U.S., which translates to an 82 percent year-over-year growth rate. That translates to a tremendous opportunity for training organizations; to help candidates get the training and certifications, they need to attract top employers. Though an almost unattainable goal, consider the dent that would put in our current unemployment rate!

Hiring managers indicate that the demand for healthcare technology, open source, green IT, and other technology specialists continues to grow; and the candidates with IT certifications rank high in their qualification priorities. Accreditations help confirm the knowledge and expertise of prospective employees, with 81% of HR managers acknowledging their value when assessing potential hires.

Despite the previously mentioned challenges in the training industry, Erdle points out that 2010 was actually a great one for CompTIA. More than 300,000 certifications were issued last year, with predictions pointing to a similar number in 2011. In addition to the current accreditations, expect to see new efforts from CompTIA with healthcare IT, security, storage and cloud computing.

As each of these technologies mature and competition heats up, both providers and end-users need individuals with the training and certifications to support their objectives. Healthcare IT is a prime example, with government incentives driving the implementation of electronic medical records (EMR) and spurring complementary solution demand. IT solution providers and larger medical facilities have an immediate need for well-trained technicians and system architects that understand how to design, install and support these potentially complex solutions.  

Training Predictions for 2011

In his keynote presentation at Colloquium, Training Industry Inc. CEO and Founder Doug Harward shared details of the top trends in the training industry and how organizations can plan and prepare for the shifts that are underway. His company educates the buyers and suppliers of training services in a number of industries, helping them identify the key players and processes required to make their business successful. The demand for qualified technology professionals presents a unique opportunity for organizations that help individuals attain those accreditations and, according to Harward, “There is no better time to be certified and trained in the IT industry.”

One key trend is corporate training increases, expected to climb seven to nine percent this year. “The reality is that training expenditures are a real economic indicator, and there are signs that companies are willing to invest,” says Harward. Using this philosophy, sales training increases demonstrate that the economy is on the rise.

A two-percent increase in training department staff, including an eight-percent boost in supply base staffing, is another positive indicator. The assumption is that many companies are projecting additional hiring in 2011, and need to augment their teams to effectively achieve their recruit goals.

Harward highlighted several other trends in his discussion, including: the evolution from program managers to solution architects and the shift to social, collaborative and customer-centric learning technologies. There is also a movement to get information to constituents faster, as well as a convergence of educational institutions on corporate training. When colleges and universities get into the training and certification business, they could become a unique competitor to current organizations—offering a degree as part of the process.

Finally, relevancy is a real game changer: training and certification have to provide businesses and individuals with the right content, at the right time and in the right place. Technology continues to change at a rapid pace and people want convenient and effective methods to attain the needed skills and knowledge to get ahead. To be successful, understanding the current and future trends will be more important than ever.