U.S. Info-Tech Jobs Expected to Flourish

American companies expect to create 1.6 million new information-technology jobs this year, an industry survey will report in a study to be released today. About one-third of the openings will be for technical support workers, who help companies install, maintain and trouble-shoot new high-tech equipment, predicts the study by the Information Technology Assn. of America. The Midwest is expected to win 35% of new information technology jobs, more than any other region. After the Midwest, Western states are expected to have the highest demand for information-technology workers this year, followed by the South, then the Northeast. Companies are worried about filling the new positions, the survey found. The survey results were based on phone interviews with information-technology managers at 700 U.S. companies. Based on the survey, ITAA estimates that a total of 10 million Americans now work in information-technology jobs.