Knowledge of wireless technologies is a desirable job attribute for future technology workers, according to research commissioned by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

Based on a survey of more than 3,500 IT managers, wireless and RF mobile technology is the skill set expected to increase the most in importance over the next five years in the majority of countries surveyed. Wireless skills ranked second in South Africa (behind security) and France (behind Web-based technologies).

Among specific industries, IT managers in health care (63%) and education (63%) were more likely to identify wireless technology as the skill that will be most important five years from now. IT managers in the auto/manufacturing sector (48%) were less likely to consider wireless important.

Other skills expected to grow in importance in the next five years include Web-based technologies (such as Web 2.0, service-oriented architecture, software-as-a-service, rich Internet applications and AJAX) and specific programming languages.