It's no secret that the technology sector was hurt by the collapse of many dot-com companies in the late 1990s and early 2000s. So it may come as a surprise that the fastest growing occupations in the United States are IT or computer- related.

According to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) each of the top seven fastest growing occupations projected for 2000 to 2010 falls within an IT or computer - related field.

Here's the breakdown:

Computer software engineers, applications
Computer support specialists
Computer software engineers, software systems
Network and computer systems administrators
Network systems and data communications analysts
Desktop publishers
Database administrators

Between 2000 and 2010, BLS predicts 100 percent growth in computer software engineering positions specializing in applications, and an increase of half a million new positions for computer support specialists. Overall, these top seven occupations are expected to create more than 1.5 million new jobs over the decade.

IT occupations are not necessarily limited to lifelong techies. A study by the National Science Foundation found that, in 1999, two-thirds of workers who had a bachelor's degree and held a computer-related job had not majored in IT or computer-related fields. Many of these workers worked their way into technical positions through on-the-job experience, and bolstered their skills with technical training tailored to specific demands of their positions.

The unusual hiring pattern reflects the truly merit-oriented nature of the sector; motivated workers can make their way to lucrative positions by gaining the knowledge and skills that employers need.

According to the BLS, "learning the technical skills necessary to work in these occupations remains paramount. Specialized certification and degree programs--associate, bachelor's, and graduate-level ones--are the primary ways workers train for information technology occupations."