Guest blog written by: Helen Hargreave, Marketing Executive for Computeach, an IT course provider and specialist who have been in the IT industry since 1964.

Finding your place in the world of work can be a daunting feeling for any final year student or recent graduate. Whilst enjoyment is no doubt still many people’s priority when it comes to job satisfaction another key area of a job seeker’s criteria is job security. Luckily, the IT industry is at one of its strongest positions – here are four positives to starting a career in IT.

It’s a growing market
Despite unemployment figures being the lowest they’ve been in the UK for a long time, finding a job is still a concern for many graduates. The IT industry is one sector which offers a bright future for recent graduates. Many businesses have a high demand for IT professionals as technology in the modern world continues to progress plus new tech start-ups have created a surge in job opportunities.

This growth has been noted by the ‘Computer People’ who reported a 19.36 per cent month-on-month rise in the number of positions available in the IT market in June, while year-on-year growth was 24.53 per cent too.

Salaries are on the up too

However, it’s not only vacancies that are increasing, salaries are going up too. Depending on the IT role you’re interested in, whether that’s software development, IT support or web design, pay packets can vary but are generally high. For example a web developer can earn up to 50k and a starting graduate role can be around 30k.

According to Computer People, for permanent roles the typical wage was up 0.4 per cent month on month and 1.7 per cent compared to 2012. When it comes to contract positions, salaries increased more significantly – 1.8 per cent on June and 5.5 per cent year on year.

Jobs aren’t just limited to the south of England (or even just England!)

When starting your job search sometimes it can feel like all IT opportunities are based in London, but this isn’t always the case. The north of England is home to technology hubs such as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle where opportunities are increasing (and rent is cheaper).
However, if you feel like a change from the UK, then the great thing about working in IT is that the demand for professionals is a universal one. Technology hubs such as Singapore, Tokyo and Beijing are all popular destinations for IT positions.

Job security
Starting a career in IT has often been considered a safe industry to be involved with as technology advancements are far from slowing down. Being at the forefront of the digital age – whether you’re building the computers that we use or the programs that change how we communicate with each other – means you’re part of a changing world.