Job satisfaction among information technology professionals is increasing, with heightened interest in cybersecurity and opportunities for more training and networking, according to a report released by CompTIA, the leading IT industry association.

A net 79 percent of IT pros are satisfied with their jobs, the report “Evaluating IT Workforce Needs” finds. That’s up from 73 percent in 2015.

Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) feel their job provides them with a sense of personal accomplishment; while 71 percent believe their job makes good use of their talents.

A majority of the 820 IT professionals surveyed (51 percent) express an interest in working on cybersecurity-related issues, well ahead of other cutting-edge issues such as the Internet of Things (30 percent) and artificial intelligence or machine learning (20 percent).

But the results also sound some cautionary notes that could impact the industry’s ability to fill the millions of tech jobs expected to be available through 2024. For example, nearly one-quarter of respondents say they are concerned about their skills becoming obsolete.

Another major issue for the future of tech jobs is what CompTIA has identified as a “confidence gap,” where the lack of diversity in the tech industry has many potential workers thinking that a career in tech is not for them.

Among women IT pros surveyed, 34 percent say they ended up in an IT role after working in non-IT jobs.

This finding aligns with earlier CompTIA research, which found that though boys and girls generally use technology in about equal numbers, girls and young women have less access to information about careers in the technology field. That includes opportunities for classroom instruction; through encouragement about career options from parents; and by the lack of access to female role models who work in the tech industry.

“The tech industry’s challenge is America’s challenge: developing a robust workforce that can effectively fill the IT jobs of the 21 [st] century, whether those jobs are in cybersecurity, IoT, AI or some new technology that’s still to come,” said Nancy Hammervik, executive vice president, industry relations at CompTIA.

“In the United States alone, we expect 1.8 million tech workers to join the labor force through 2024,” Hammervik said. “We need to attract and recruit a diverse workforce of individuals, with and without college degrees, and support them in their career growth. CompTIA AITP is a big part of the solution for closing the confidence gap and filling the pipeline of tech professionals for today and tomorrow.”

CompTIA’s “Evaluating IT Workforce Needs” report underscores the value of professional groups and resources to career development.

• 53 percent of IT pros surveyed would like more resources for training and professional development.
• 48 percent seek more career advancement opportunities and career path guidance.
• 61 percent report that involvement in a professional group would benefit their career.
• Among the biggest draws of a professional association are networking opportunities (67 percent) and career/job opportunities (47 percent).

The survey of 820 IT professionals from the United States, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom was conducted in June 2017. Click here for the complete report