In another hopeful sign for the IT job market, IBM and Hewlett-Packard are opening service and support centers in three small towns in the middle of the country. They are expected to employ 4,000 people in total.

IBM is opening one new service center in Dubuque, Iowa, that ultimately will employ 1,300 workers. HP is opening a center in Conway, Ark., that will create 1,200 jobs, most of them paying more than $40,000, according to reports. HP's Rio Rancho, New Mexico center, expected to open in the spring of 2010, will eventually employ 1,300 workers. The jobs will pay $45,000 and up.

Local officials are thrilled that these IT companies are bringing jobs to their communities. And it sure will be interesting to see if this little drip of progress leads the way to economic recovery from the punishing recession.

For more on IT jobs:
- check out this InformationWeek.com article

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