While a recent survey of businesses indicates that the majority intend to skip the upgrade to Microsoft Windows 7, market analyst firm IDC is still forecasting a brisk uptake of the operating system benefiting IT employment and jobs in addition to several other technology areas.

Microsoft’s new operating system Windows 7 is the software giant’s follow-on to the Vista operating system, widely viewed as a big flop among business customers. Indeed, many companies have put off any PC refreshes for up to five years now.

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But Microsoft Windows 7 could change all that, IDC says in a new report looking at the potential for Windows 7, and sponsored by Microsoft.

“For Microsoft, the launch of Windows 7 suggests strong growth in client operating systems again,” IDC says in its report. “But the impact of Windows 7 will reach far beyond Microsoft, driving revenues and growth for many of the IT companies worldwide that sell hardware, write software, provide IT services or serve as IT distribution channels. This growth will do its bit to help economies around the world climb out of the current economic crisis.”

The new IDC research shows that by the end of 2010 more than 7 million people worldwide will be working with Windows 7—19 percent of the global IT work force. And for every dollar of Microsoft revenue from Windows 7 from the launch date in October this year until the end of 2010, the Microsoft ecosystem beyond Microsoft will reap $18.52, says IDC.

IDC is forecasting Windows 7 shipments of 177 million units by the end of 2010. Forty million of those sales will be in 2009, says IDC.

“Windows 7 will be shipping into a relatively harsh environment,” the firm says. “But the launch of a new and better operating system will necessitate new applications, new hardware, new planning, deployment and training, and new services. These will drive much-needed investment that will, in turn, fuel stronger growth in subsequent years.”