Latest Stats on Networking and Certs

Even during the period of global recession, IT has remained a growing sector. Networking, in particular, has expanded rapidly.

The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics ranks network systems analysts as the second fastest-growing occupation, with 53.4 per cent job growth predicted from 2008 to 2018.

Despite the increasing pay and growth, demand still beats the supply of qualified networking experts. Fred Weiller, director of marketing for Cisco Learning, sees a “talent gap between business needs and people with the right skills.”

Cisco certification plays a crucial role in connecting trained network professionals and hiring managers.

According to the consulting firm IDC, 66 per cent of managers believe that IT certifications improve the overall output of professionals, and three out of four say certifications are vital to team performance. 

Weiller also cited a 2009 PayScale figure demonstrating a standard salary premium of 10 to 20 per cent upon certification.