CompTIA’s IT Industry Outlook 2013 provides an overview of the size, shape and growth factors of the information technology (IT) industry. The study consists of three sections, which can be viewed independently or together as chapters of a comprehensive report. The enclosed slides are a sampling of the content found in the report. Section 1: IT Industry Market and Workforce Overview Section 2: 2013 IT Industry Forecasts Section 3: 2013 IT Industry Trends

1. CompTIA Market Intelligence | January 29, 2013
IT Industry Outlook 2013

2. IT Industry Business Confidence Unchanged
Heading Into 2013; Outlook Slightly More Promising
CompTIA’s IT Industry Business Confidence Index is calculated on a 100-point scale, using an aggregation of three
metrics: 1). Opinions of the U.S. economy, 2). Opinions of the IT industry, and 3). Opinions of one’s company.
64.0
62.0
60.0
58.0
56.0
54.0
52.0
50.0
48.0
46.0
44.0
*6-month forecast
Source: CompTIA 2013 Outlook Study | Base: 518 executives at U.S. IT firms

3. U.S. Economy Component of Index
Continues to Negatively Affect Sentiment
CompTIA’s IT Industry Business Confidence Index is calculated on a 100-point scale, using an aggregation of three
metrics: 1). Opinions of the U.S. economy, 2). Opinions of the IT industry, and 3). Opinions of one’s company.
72.0
U.S. Economy IT Industry Your Firm
68.0
64.0
60.0
56.0
52.0
48.0
44.0
40.0
36.0
*6-month forecast
Source: CompTIA 2013 Outlook Study | Base: 518 executives at U.S. IT firms

4. Gap in Sentiment Between Micro-Size and
Larger IT Firms Persists
Micro = Less than 10 employees Medium = 100 to 499 employees Data depicts overall IT Industry
Small = 10 to 99 employees Large = 500+ employees Business Confidence
59.8
57.3 57.6 57.9 57.9
56.0 55.9
53.0
Micro Small Medium Large HW or SW IT or Biz SPs, VARs Other
firms firms firms firms Vendors Consulting or MSPs
Source: CompTIA 2013 Outlook Study | Base: 518 executives at U.S. IT firms

5. Even Under Pessimistic Scenario, Many
Expect Positive IT Industry Growth
U.S. IT Industry Revenue Forecast: Distribution of Opinions
Midpoint =
-12% growth 0% growth +12% growth
Optimistic scenario:
90% NET positive growth forecast
4% Flat growth forecast
6% NET negative growth forecast
Pessimistic scenario:
53% NET positive growth forecast
16% Flat growth forecast
31% NET negative growth forecast
Shaded area =
Optimistic
scenario
Line = Pessimistic
scenario
Source: CompTIA 2013 Outlook Study | Base: 518 executives at U.S. IT firms

6. IT Firms Balance Cost Cutting, Staffing & Innovation
Expected change in spending/investment over next 6 months
Planned No Planned
Decrease Change Increase
Investments in new products or business lines 7% 51% 43%
Staffing levels in technical positions 12% 48% 40%
Technology expenditures 10% 52% 38%
Cost cutting 7% 57% 36%
Staff training or professional development 14% 55% 31%
Marketing/advertising expenditures 14% 56% 31%
Staffing levels in non-technical positions 13% 61% 26%
Business travel 27% 52% 21%
Capital expenditures (e.g. non technology) 20% 61% 19%
Source: CompTIA 2013 Outlook Study | Base: 518 executives at U.S. IT firms

7. CompTIA Consensus IT Industry Growth Forecasts
Global IT Industry Revenue Forecast U.S. IT Industry Revenue Forecast
2013 Optimistic projection: 5.2% 2013 Optimistic projection: 4.9%
2013 Pessimistic projection: 0.7% 2013 Pessimistic projection: 0.6%
2013 Midpoint projection: 3.0% 2013 Midpoint projection: 2.9%
8.0 8.0
7.0 7.0
Growth Rate Range
Growth Rate Range
6.0 6.0
5.0 5.0
4.0 4.0
3.0 3.0
2.0 2.0
1.0 1.0
0.0 0.0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2010 2011 2012 2013
Source: CompTIA 2013 Outlook Study | Base: 518 executives at U.S. IT firms

8. Some Threats Subside, but Fear of a Stalled Recovery and
Weak Spending Continue to Worry Industry Executives
Stalled recovery 48%
52%
General lack of confidence/paralysis 37%
43%
Weak corporate demand 33%
32%
Weak consumer demand 32%
34%
Unexpected shock (e.g. fiscal cliff, oil price spike) 31%
25%
Government regulation 30%
25%
IT industry squeezed by decreasing margins 29%
32%
Lengthy sales cycles 24%
0
NA
Domestic competition 20%
18% 2013
Labor prices/availability of talent 19%
23%
Stock market volatility 18%
25%
2012
Competition from overseas firms 17%
15%
Access to credit/capital 17%
25%
Disruptive technologies or business models 11%
17%
Weak export market 7%
9%
Source: CompTIA 2013 Outlook Study | Base: 518 executives at U.S. IT firms

9. Majority of Channel Expects to Undergo at Least a
Moderate Degree of Business Transformation in 2013
Degree of Business Transformation Degree of Business
Expected During 2013 Transformation Correlated
with Company Size
NET high + moderate business transformation
73% Large IT firms
52% 73% Medium-size IT firms
36%
63% Small IT firms
12%
50% Micro-size IT firms
High Moderate Low
Degree Degree Degree
Source: CompTIA 2013 Outlook Study | Base: 518 executives at U.S. IT firms

10. IT Industry Employment vs. IT Occupation Employment
IT IT
Industry Occupation
Employment Employment
An estimated 5.0 million workers An estimated 4.16 million workers
were employed in the U.S. Within the IT were employed in core IT
information technology industry occupations, across the full
in 2012. This includes technical
industry, there spectrum of U.S. industry sectors
and non-technical positions. are many IT and the government sector. This
occupations. figure includes non-
employers, such as the self-
employed.

11. About this Research
CompTIA’s IT Industry Outlook 2013 provides an overview of the size, shape and growth factors of the information
technology (IT) industry.
The study consists of three sections, which can be viewed independently or together as chapters of a
comprehensive report. The enclosed slides are a sampling of the content found in the report.
Section 1: IT Industry Market and Workforce Overview
Section 2: 2013 IT Industry Forecasts
Section 3: 2013 IT Industry Trends
This quantitative study consisted of an online survey fielded to IT industry executives and professionals during late
December 2012. It was conducted as part of CompTIA’s quarterly IT Industry Business Confidence Index. A total of
518 IT industry companies participated in the survey, yielding an overall margin of sampling error at 95% confidence
of +/- 4.4 percentage points. Sampling error is larger for subgroups of the data.
As with any survey, sampling error is only one source of possible error. While non-sampling error cannot be
accurately calculated, precautionary steps were taken in all phases of the survey design, collection and processing of
the data to minimize its influence.
CompTIA is responsible for all content contained in this series. Any questions regarding the study should be directed
to CompTIA Market Intelligence staff at research@comptia.org.
CompTIA is a member of the Marketing Research Association (MRA) and adheres to the MRA’s Code of Market
Research Ethics and Standards.

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