Internet Services

The future is bright for Internet services and security companies. Improved and new technology is making the Internet easier, faster, and more convenient, driving people to rely on it for more and more services. A growing number of individuals and households turn to online providers for news, streaming movies and television, streaming music, health information, shopping, gaming, and many other activities. Smartphones and tablets are putting the full power of the Internet into people's hands almost anywhere they go, giving them the option to stay connected almost 24/7. Employment for those who are employed by computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services will increase by 19 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

In October 2024, there were approximately 5.52 billion Internet users worldwide, according to Statista. By 2028, this figure is expected to reach 6.05 billion. There were 318.66 million Internet users in the U.S. in 2023. This number is expected to increase to 343.48 million by 2029.

Technical workers can expect strong growth and good job opportunities in the future. Employment for software developers is predicted to grow much faster than the average for all careers through 2033, according to the DOL. Software developers will experience an 18 percent increase in employment, and job opportunities for mobile application developers will be excellent.

As more and more activities are performed online and people shift toward mobile computing platforms, security of personal information will remain a high priority. Securing the ever-growing array of data available online, however, will be a challenge. As a result, employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 33 percent through 2033. The career ranks in the top-five, fastest-growing careers in the United States.

Top content producers, such as popular bloggers, influencers, musicians, game designers, and columnists, will be in demand for their name recognition, which drives traffic and advertising revenue. Digital music continues to grow in popularity. More people are streaming music instead of downloading it. There were 713 million music streaming subscribers worldwide in the third quarter of 2023, according to Statista.com This was a significant increase from 616 million at the end of the second quarter of 2022. Paid subscriptions for music streaming services generated more than $11 billion in revenue, according to the 2023 Year-End Music Industry Revenue Report from the Recording Industry Association of America. Additionally, the global podcasting market was valued at $18.52 billion in 2022, according to Grand View Research. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 27.6 percent from 2023 to 2030 and reach a value of $130.63 billion.

Opportunities will exist for entry-level writers, editors, photographers, videographers, and others, but these jobs may come with low pay and limited job security.

Online gaming will also grow as the number of broadband users rises, microtransaction technology (financial transactions involving small amounts of money) makes it easier for users to play casual games and social network games, and smartphones and tablets become the most popular method of play.

Search marketing, an already lucrative sector, will grow as companies seek an extra edge by improving the search rankings of their Web sites.

Overall time spent on mobile apps continues to skyrocket. One of the main revenue streams in social media is advertising, which is also expected to grow, driving demand for digital advertising and marketing workers. Along with a wide range of projected growth, the Internet industry is also expected to become increasingly competitive for workers even as more job opportunities appear. Fast-changing technology means workers must stay on top of new developments, continually update and upgrade their skills, and be prepared to adapt to new platforms, programs, and consumer needs.

The average salary for those who were employed by computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services was $116,230 in May 2023, according to the DOL. This is higher than the national average ($63,098) for all private sector workers.