Information-technology workers comprise a much bigger portion of the work force than previously thought, and far more of them are needed than are being supplied. So concludes a report from the Information Technology Association of America.

Demand now far exceeds supply, according to officials of the association, because "the economy transforms itself a lot faster than the educational and training system does."

• Employers will need roughly 1.6 million new information-technology (IT) workers by next January, the report estimates.

• But 850,000 of those positions will likely go unfilled.

• The U.S. IT workforce currently numbers 10 million, excluding jobs in government or nonprofit groups.

• Smaller companies with 50 to 99 employees have the greatest need for IT workers -- with their demands comprising 70 percent of the overall demand expected.

Technical-support representatives, database developers and programmers possess the skills in greatest demand. Workers with web-related skills are expected to make up 13 percent of all IT hiring.

Source: Rachel Emma Silverman, "Employers Face Dearth of IT Workers, as Demand Exceeds Supply, Data Show," Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2000.

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