Market for Techies Hot

Companies will continue to hire computer and technology experts at a rapid pace in 1997, and one of the hottest job markets will be in California and the Pacific region, according to a recent survey by Computerworld magazine.

Half of the companies surveyed in the Pacific region said they plan to increase hiring in their computer departments in 1997. The Pacific region surpassed all others except the Great Lakes area, where 53% of the respondents said they plan to increase their technology hiring.

But annual salary increases, which often reached double-digit rates in recent years, could slow in 1997. Salaries in corporate computer departments in the Pacific region are expected to rise a modest 5%. The West Coast again outstripped all other regions except the Great Lakes, where salaries are expected to rise 6.4%.

Computerworld surveyed 270 executives responsible for hiring programmers, engineers and other employees for corporate computing departments.

*

Greg Miller covers high technology for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-7830 and at [email protected].