The number of information technology jobs increased by more than 15,300 to 4.08 million jobs in December, according to a monthly index of IT jobs developed and published by TechServe Alliance.

On an annual basis, IT jobs were up 3.3 percent in 2011 over 2010, more than double the rate of growth IT employment experienced in 2009 of 1.3 percent.

“As we begin 2012, I am heartened to see accelerating growth in IT employment,” said Mark Roberts, CEO of TechServe Alliance. “Based upon both the data and anecdotal reports of my member companies, one of our greatest challenges going forward will be a shortage of IT talent in key skill sets.”

TechServe Alliance is a collaboration of IT staffing firms, solutions firms, clients, consultants and suppliers dedicated to advancing excellence and ethics within the IT services industry.