Omnificence or Differentiation? An Empirical Study of Knowledge Structure and Career Development of IT Workers.

This article investigates how the structure of information technology (IT) knowledge among IT professionals influences their career outcomes, specifically salary and job security. It introduces two novel metrics: knowledge omnificence, which measures the breadth and well-roundedness of an individual's IT knowledge, and knowledge differentiation, which assesses how distinct an individual's knowledge is compared to peers. Analyzing extensive career data from over 800,000 Chinese IT workers between 2000 and 2016, the study finds that moderate levels of both knowledge omnificence and differentiation yield the most favorable economic returns. Knowledge omnificence is linked to higher salary potential and career mobility, while knowledge differentiation enhances job security. Additionally, these knowledge structures help reduce gender disparities in compensation, with women benefiting notably from increases in both omnificence and differentiation. The findings offer strategic guidance for IT professionals, firms, and policymakers aiming to foster dynamic and equitable IT labor markets.