The 2015 IT Industry Outlook report by CompTIA forecasts growth in the IT industry, driven by strong demand for technology, with an estimated global industry revenue of $3.7 trillion and 5.76 million workers in the U.S. IT sector. The report outlines key trends such as the democratization of technology, the challenges in hiring for technical positions, and emphasizes the importance of ongoing business transformation. CompTIA utilizes various data sources, including insights from 650 industry executives, to present its growth projections and trends for 2015.

1. Copyright (c) 2015 CompTIA Properties, LLC. All Rights Reserved. | CompTIA.org
2015 IT
Industry
Outlook
& Trends
to Watch

2. About CompTIA’s 2015 IT Industry Outlook
The Report Focuses on 4 Key Areas
IT Industry
Growth
Forecast
IT Workforce
Overview
12 Trends
to Watch
in 2015
IT Industry
& Channel
Overview
Overview of the size
and shape of the IT
industry, including a
discussion of the role
of the IT channel.
BLS and other data
are used to quantify
the size of the IT
workforce, as well as
the changes taking
place to its
composition.
Growth forecast for
the year ahead.
Includes a number
of regional
breakouts, as well as
detail for industry
sector and margins.
Key trends and
counter-trends that
will shape the year
ahead. The trends
focus on macro issues,
technology and the
channel.
CompTIA utilizes a wide-range of data sources in the 2015 Outlook, including the input of 650 IT industry executives, collected via CompTIA’s Business Confidence Survey.
Copyright (c) 2015 CompTIA Properties, LLC. All Rights Reserved. | CompTIA.org
The complete 46-page 2015 IT Industry Outlook report can be accessed free of charge at CompTIA.org (with simple registration)

3. The Global Information Technology Industry: $3.7 Trillion
Source: IDC
30%
Estimated 2014 revenue | Encompasses hardware, software, services and telecommunications

4. The IT Workforce Drives Innovation
Source: CompTIA | EMSI | BLS
IT
Industry
Employment
IT
Occupation
Employment
Within the IT
industry, there are
many IT occupations
and IT workers
An estimated 5.76 million
workers were employed in the
U.S. information technology
industry in 2014. This includes
technical and non-technical
positions in employer firms and
non-employer firms.
An estimated 4.88 million workers
were employed in core IT
occupations, across the full
spectrum of U.S. industry sectors
and the government sector in 2014.
This figure includes non-employers,
such as the self-employed or sole
proprietors.

5. Strong Demand for Technology Drives Workforce Gains
1. California
2. Texas
3. New York
4. Virginia
5. Florida
6. Illinois
7. Pennsylvania
8. Massachusetts
9. New Jersey
10. Washington
11. Ohio
12. Georgia
13. North Carolina
14. Maryland
15. Michigan
16. Colorado
17. Minnesota
18. Arizona
19. Missouri
20. Wisconsin
21. Indiana
22. Tennessee
23. Oregon
24. Connecticut
25. Alabama
Source: CompTIA | EMSI | BLS
The top 25 states for IT occupations account for 88% of the country’s 4.88 million IT jobs

6. CompTIA’s IT Industry Business Confidence Index
Shows Momentum Heading Into 2015
44.0
49.0
54.0
59.0
64.0
69.0
Source: CompTIA Q1 2015 IT Industry Business Confidence Index | n=457 U.S. IT company executives
CompTIA’s IT Industry Business Confidence Index is calculated on a 100-point scale using an aggregation of three metrics:
1). Perceptions of the state of the U.S. economy, 2). The state of the IT industry, and a 3). Self-assessment of one’s own company.

7. CompTIA 2015 IT Industry Growth Forecast
Source: CompTIA 2015 IT Industry Outlook
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
GrowthRateRange
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
GrowthRateRange
Global IT Industry Revenue Growth Forecast U.S. IT Industry Growth Revenue Forecast
2015 Optimistic projection: 7.3%
2015 Pessimistic projection: 2.7%
2015 Midpoint projection: 5.0%
2015 Optimistic projection: 7.3%
2015 Pessimistic projection: 2.8%
2015 Midpoint projection: 5.1%
Methodology note: CompTIA utilizes a consensus forecasting methodology, also referred to as a “wisdom of the crowds” approach. IT industry executives in
the US, Canada and the UK provide their optimistic and pessimistic projections for the year ahead; these inputs provide the basis for the CompTIA forecast.

8. 2015 Investment Plans / Actions by IT Companies
14%
18%
13%
9%
4%
8%
11%
6%
8%
56%
52%
56%
54%
58%
52%
43%
47%
42%
30%
30%
32%
37%
38%
40%
46%
47%
50%
Capital expenditures (e.g. non technology)
Business travel
Staffing levels in non-technical positions
Staff training or professional development
Changes in strategic direction
Marketing/advertising expenditures
Staffing levels in technical positions
Technology expenditures
Investments in new products or business lines
Planned
Increase
No
Change
Planned
Decrease
Expected change in spending/investment during 2015
[+10 vs. 2014]
[+7 vs. 2014]
[+5 vs. 2014]
Source: CompTIA 2015 IT Industry Outlook

9. Majority of IT Companies See a Challenging Hiring
Environment for Technical Positions in the Year Ahead
2%
12%
53%
27%
6%
1%
3%
28%
54%
14%
Not at all challenging
Not that challenging
Neutral – neither challenging, nor easy
Challenging
Very challenging
Technical positions
Non-technical positions
A NET 68%
of IT firms
report a
challenging
hiring
environment
for technical
positions
Source: CompTIA 2015 IT Industry Outlook

10. CompTIA’s 2015 Trends to Watch
Source: CompTIA
Technology Extends Its Global Reach
The Push to Simplify: Battling Complexity on Many Fronts
The Democratization of Technology Creates New Opportunities for Small Businesses The
Stakes Get Higher for Tech Policy
Remodeling the Channel
Customers Holding the Reins
Business Transformation is NOT the End Point Channel
Skills Gaps: Marketing and Beyond
The New Business Systems Get Built
Data Handling Becomes a Core Competency
The Internet of Things Drives Innovation
Security Gets a Makeover

11. Buzzword Watch
- Containers [Docker]
- Natural language processing
- Selfie stick
- Cyber-insurance
- WebRTC
- Machine learning
- Cryptocurrency
- Growth hacking
- Hacktivism
- Maker movement
- Data stewardship
- Commercial drones
- Enterprise mobility mgt. (EMM)
- Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH)
- Cloud bursting
- Virtual private cloud (VPC)
- Smart building technologies
- Sensorization of everything
- Software defined networking (SDN)
- All SSD
- Data industrial complex
- Quantified Self
- Dronies
- Raspberry Pi
- Neuromorphics
- Self-healing systems
- New gTLD / nTLD
- SPOC (small private online courses)
- Location-based authentication
- Zerotrust security
- Haptics
- DuckDuckGo
- Driveless cars
- Quantum computing
- Flexible displays
- iBeacon
- WiGig
- Additive manufacturing
- IFTTT - If This Then That
- Gesture tech
- Next-gen robotics
- Fast-laning
- Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly
Early / Niche Gaining Traction On Its Way
- Mobile wallets
- Phablets
- Gamification
- MOOCs
- Consumer tech inspired UX
- Omnichannel engagements
- Adaptive learning
- Interactive digital signage
- NoSQL
- Wearables
- 3D printing
- Internet of Things
- Uber-fication of services
- Telemedicine
- Big data + Small data
- Business transformation
- Content marketing
- Object based storage
- Data visualization
- Shadow IT
- Social enterprise
Note: CompTIA’s Buzzword Watch is not meant to be a forma, quantitative assessment of
trends, but rather an informal look at the concepts that may be discussed in the year ahead.
Source: CompTIA

12. Thank You
Copyright (c) 2015 CompTIA Properties, LLC. All Rights Reserved. | CompTIA.org
REMINDER: The complete 46-page 2015 IT Industry Outlook report can
be accessed free of charge at CompTIA.org (with simple registration)