Here we go again ... another prediction in a place that impacts IT workers' hopes, not to mention their lives.

A new survey from employment specialist Robert Half Technology finds that IT hiring is expected to increase at a tiny 3 percent in the first quarter 2010.

Well, that's better than nothing. The phone survey of 1,400 CIOs, spread across companies of all sizes, finds there is a glimmer of light at the end of this long, dark tunnel.

 The greatest hiring is expected to occur in the Chicago region and in the South Atlantic Region--that's Washington, D.C., to Florida-- according to the survey.

"After months of slow hiring activity, managers are beginning the year with new budgets and appear ready to carefully expand their IT departments," said Dave Willmer, executive director of Robert Half Technology, in a statement. "Many firms are investing in technologies that improve efficiency and competitiveness."

There's even better news. The job hiring won't be limited to one kind of skill. It's expected to range from entry and staff-level jobs all the way to senior staff positions, according to the survey.

The biggest technical skill set in demand are network administrations, cited by 70 percent of the respondents, followed by desktop support at 66 percent and Windows administration at 62 percent.

Another bright spot--the health services industry. At least 16 percent of health services CIOs are planning to expand their IT departments.

"The health services sector," said Willmer, "needs IT talent to manage the conversion to electronic medical records."

For more on IT jobs:
- see this Information Week article

Related Articles:
Are you ready for the recession to end?
CIOs face IT worker exodus after recession