The information technology industry is likely to experience moderate growth in 2014, according to the IT Industry Outlook 2014 released today by CompTIA. The nonprofit association’s consensus forecast projects a 2014 growth rate of 3.4 percent for the global IT industry, with upside potential of 5.9 percent. The U.S. forecast is slightly lower: 3 percent, with upside potential of 5.4 percent.

CompTIA’s quarterly IT industry business confidence index increased 2.1 percentage points in in the first quarter to 60.2 on a 100-point scale. The forward-looking component of the index projects a gain of 2.2 points, which if realized, would mark a record high in the five-plus year history of the survey. The index is based on IT executives’ opinions of the U.S. economy, the IT industry and their own company.

“The importance of technology to business success has never been greater as IT continues to transition from supporting tool to a strategic driver,” said Tim Herbert, vice president, research, CompTIA.

On the employment front, 41 percent of IT companies plan increased investments in staffing in technical positions this year, compared to 15 percent that plan staffing decreases. Among non-technical positions, 32 percent of firms plan increases and 16 percent decreases. The data suggests medium-sized IT firms will be the most aggressive in hiring for both technical and non-technical positions.

CompTIA’s IT Industry Outlook 2014 is the result of an online survey of 525 IT industry companies conducted in late December.