Do we have a shortage of Information Technology (IT) jobs in the US or not enough skilled professionals to fill IT jobs? Recent articles are sending conflicting messages to our young people. We'd better get our facts straight - because inquiring minds want to know.
USA Today recently ran a story entitled: Technology worker shortage has businesses, educators worried. Here's a quote: "Fewer college students are pursuing computer-related degrees at a time when demand is increasing and thousands of baby boomers are retiring from technical jobs.... According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 854,000 professional IT jobs will be added between 2006 and 2016, an increase of about 24%. When replacement jobs are added in, total IT job openings in the 10-year period is estimated at 1.6 million...."
Meanwhile, eWeek.com is proclaiming that not only are IT salaraies taking a recessionary hit, "IT compensation has been flat for 12 months and cost-cutting measures might speed the offshoring of IT jobs."
The eWeek.com article goes on: "CIOs are asking, can we outsource? Can we get it for a lower cost?" said Josh Farina, an analyst at Technology Business Research. "With so much help and support services being offshored, there is a lot of risk in these roles."
So which one is it? Yes, it depends where you live, yada, yada, yada. But are IT jobs all going to India and China? I don't think so.
I'm encouraging young people to get into IT, if they're interested. With an incredible number of boomers retiring over the next two decades, plenty of jobs in IT will be available. Meanwhile, vacancies in IT are available now - if you have the right skill sets and are willing to move (within the US).
Yes, this issue is important, and it does affect career choices for high school grads and others who are making career choices. More than that, IT execs need to get our story straight and send the right messages to the next generation. Of course, IT security also is a big part of this career search pie.
No doubt, we may be in a rough economic patch right now, but we need to get more young people into IT. I agree with USA Today more than eWeek. Let's get our talking points straight and tell our kids to hit the math and science books.
What are your thoughts?
