Brazil is Global Bright Spot

Economic reforms put tech industry in hiring mode

BY PEGGY ALBRIGHT

If there’s a global bright spot for information technology jobs, it’ Brazil. The country has a bustling economy and thriving IT sector and it needs thousands and thousands of IT professionals.

The Federative Republic of Brazil is South America’s largest and most populous country and the world’s fifth-largest country in terms of land mass and population. Furthermore, it’s the world’s seventh-biggest economy, and with a 7.8 percent growth rate last year, exceeds many countries in the world.

Brazil is tied with India as the second-most-popular country for business investment, said Mauro Peres, who leads IDC’s research services and thought leadership for IT, telecom, and vertical market services in Brazil. And its economic momentum will be helped even more by its preparations to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. In preparation, the country is investing billions in infrastructure, tourism facilities, transportation, and security services and systems.

Because the IT sector serves all sectors, the World Cup and Olympics will help generate jobs, said Antonio Gil, president of Brasscom, the Brazilian Association of Information Technology and Communication Companies. “Brazil is a land of opportunity,” he said.

Aerospace and Defense Still Flying High

By PEGGY ALBRIGHT

The aerospace and defense industry is one of the world’s healthiest, kept robust by the manufacturing of commercial and military aircraft, ships, and tanks, as well as professional services and research and development.

Aerospace and defense have experienced tremendous growth over the past decade. While there are talks of budget cutbacks, it will remain a sizeable part of US business and a reliable and steady source of employment. Furthermore, up to one-third of the business is commercial contracts not at potential risk from government cutbacks.

Continued need for technology pros

The industry has always needed talented IT professionals. Today, as in many industries, government and defense contractors are putting effort into increasing computing power and networking systems to create broad architectures that allow information to pass between nodes and systems. The linking of systems and has transformed the industry and continues to represent one of its most important trends, according to Rich Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at the Teal Group.