There are some signs that the long and deep economic downturn may be starting to ebb, but so far it's been a jobless recovery that may hold true for IT, as well as many other sectors of the job market, for some time.

National unemployment is still high, 9.4 percent, and much higher in some states. In California's Silicon Valley, unemployment is at 11.8 percent, representing a slight improvement and perhaps a sign that things have begun to stabilize for the moment.

The San Jose Mercury News reported last week that time will tell if the leveling off means we have hit bottom. The newspaper quotes as a  53-year-old quality-assurance engineer saying he still has not found a job since being laid off in October from a tech company, but at least he is starting to get some interviews.

Tech stocks have been part and parcel of the recent Wall Street rally, although that could change without much notice. The technology sector has been popular with portfolio managers, and three of the world's top technology companies--IBM, Intel and Apple--announced strong financial results for the second quarter of 2009.

It's been a tough year, with belt-tightening, layoffs, downsizing and pay cuts. Along the way, it's become very clear that there have been certain areas of IT that could not be neglected: Security is the big one. And anyone who tried to cut corners in IT security risked serious consequences. As we report this week, IT shops have been moving toward managed security services rather than using in-house staff as one way to save money before the economy stabilizes.

We also report on a new Forester Research report that found more than 60 percent of the IT executives surveyed planned to cut staff through 2009, and more than 50 percent of firms plan to cut staff salaries.

The job site for technology professionals, Dice.com, reported earlier this month that hiring in the high-tech industry remains sluggish. The firm said that companies are adding workers who can make their computer systems more efficient and more secure.

It's unclear when the job market will improve, but companies will need a skilled workforce to rebuild what has been neglected. When the storm clouds clear, there will be a lot of pent-up demand and a need for technical services and skills. The question is when will that day come? - Judi