9781422273074

WHY WORK IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY? Information technology is used today in every single scientific field. Many scientists use very high-level math to understand what they are working on, and computers help them to do this. Computers aren’t just used by scientists, though. Pretty much everyone else uses computers too, from bankers to artists. Just a few decades ago, these computers would have been impossible to make. But the world of technology is constantly changing. That’s why IT workers are in high demand. In fact, employment of computer and IT workers is expected to grow much faster than the average for all careers through 2029, according to the US Department of Labor (USDL). Job opportunities are also plentiful for IT professionals in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and many other countries. Additionally, IT professionals are paid very well. Median annual salaries for those in computer and mathematical careers in the United States are $91,530, according to the USDL. This is much higher than the median earnings ($51,960) for all careers. CAREER PATHS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY There are dozens of occupations in the IT industry. The following paragraphs provide information on some of the most popular options. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence—perceiving, reasoning, learning, problem-solving, etc.—by machinery and computer systems.

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WOMEN IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY