Technical Support Specialists

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment for technical support specialists will grow by 6 percent (faster than the average for all occupations) from 2023 to 2033. Employment of support specialists in computer systems design and related firms is projected to grow by 22.6 percent through 2033. Another especially strong growth area is software publishing, where employment is expected to increase by 13.4 percent during this time span. Each time a new computer product is released on the market or another system is installed, problems arise, whether from user error or technical difficulty. Technical support specialists will continue to be needed to solve the problems. Since technology changes so rapidly, it is very important for these professionals to keep up to date on advances. They should read trade magazines, attend industry conferences, and talk with colleagues in order to know what is happening in the field.

Some companies stop offering technical support on old products or applications after a designated time, so the key is to be flexible with your understanding of technology. The industry as a whole will require more technical support specialists in the future, but it may be the case that certain computer companies go out of business. It can be a volatile industry for start-ups or young companies dedicated to the development of one product. Technical support specialists interested in working for computer companies should therefore consider living in areas in which many such companies are clustered. In this way, it will be easier to find another job if necessary.

Those with a bachelor's degree, work experience, and good technical and communication skills will have the best job prospects.

The growth of cloud computing and advanced artificial intelligence are increasing technical support specialists' productivity at some companies, which will temper some of the job growth.