Wanted: Experienced IT professionals with broad technical competency and working knowledge of both emerging technologies and legacy systems. Should have top-notch analytical and problem-solving prowess, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work well independently and as a member of a team. Must have experience in business process management, certification in project management and a solid understanding of enterprise architecture. Customer service attitude required. Vendor management background a plus.

It's no longer a matter of debate: The nature of IT is evolving from technical support center to innovative business partner. And the mix of skills needed to staff the new IT department is changing as well. While technical proficiency is still important, CIOs are desperately seeking hires with project management expertise, enterprise and industry knowledge, and the business skills necessary for customer-facing roles. Forty-one percent of CIOs said they place greater emphasis today on a job candidate's knowledge of business fundamentals than they did five years ago, according to a 2006 Robert Half Technology survey.

What is unclear is how CIOs will meet this demand. The supply of business-IT professionals is tight. Enrollment in U.S. computer science and engineering programs has plunged five straight years, down 50 percent from 2000 to 2005, according to the most recent study by the Computing Research Association. CIOs complain that students who do pursue traditional IT programs don't get adequate exposure to soft skills. Seasoned professionals with that valuable combination of business and technology skills inch nearer to retirement. One-third of U.S. workers will be over the age of 50 by 2010; the first baby boomers reach retirement age in 2011. Skilled midcareer workers, who could fill the gap, risk being ignored or underutilized.

Yet successful IT staffing is more important than ever. "Talent is the differentiator between creating significant business advantage with IT and not," says Alastair Behenna, CIO of global recruiter Harvey Nash Group.

Staffing pressures are affecting everyone, from smaller businesses to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits to the public sector, industry to industry. In fact, IT leaders ranked finding, hiring and retaining workers with the needed skill sets among their top staffing concerns, according to CIO's "2006 Midyear Staffing Update."

"We're all going after the same talent pool," says Diane Wallace, CIO for the state of Connecticut. "These issues are going to be with us for a while, and there's no magic bullet coming. CIOs have to solve it for themselves."