The Future of Information Technology
Introduction
There is widespread concern within the higher education IT
sector about the job market in Australia, and the falling demand
for IT degree places. I've been collecting counter stories for
sometime, but only recently decided to assemble them here.
20090322: Computer Science Stages a Strong Comeback
By Margo McCall: On 3/17/09 10:55 PM (http://www2.computer.org/portal/web/buildyourcareer/news/-/blogs/computer-science-stages-a-strong-comeback?_33_redirect=%2Fportal%2Fweb%2Fbuildyourcareer%2Fnews)
After six years of stagnation, students are flocking back
to computer science. Total enrollment per department by majors
and pre-majors in US computer science programs is up 6.2 percent
over last year. If only majors are considered, the increase is
8.1 percent, according to the Computing Research Association’s
annual Taulbee Survey. The CRA surveyed 264 PhD-granting
institutions in the US and Canada.
PhD production was up 5.7 percent this year, and the total
number of new PhD students was up by 10 percent. Although
enrollment is up in computer science departments, diversity in
undergraduate programs remains poor. According to the survey,
about 88 percent of computer science degrees were awarded to men
and two-thirds to whites.
20060322: Job Outlook in the U.S.
Employment of computer systems analysts is expected to grow much
faster than the average for all occupations through the year
2014 as organizations continue to adopt and integrate
increasingly sophisticated technologies. Job increases will be
driven by very rapid growth in computer system design and
related services, which is projected to be among the fastest
growing industries in the U.S. economy. In addition, many job
openings will arise annually from the need to replace workers
who move into managerial positions or other occupations or who
leave the labor force. Job growth will not be as rapid as during
the previous decade, however, as the information technology
sector begins to mature and as routine work is increasingly
outsourced to lower-wage foreign countries.
Workers in the occupation should enjoy favorable job prospects.
The demand for networking to facilitate the sharing of
information, the expansion of client-server environments, and
the need for computer specialists to use their knowledge and
skills in a problem-solving capacity will be major factors in
the rising demand for computer systems analysts. Moreover,
falling prices of computer hardware and software should continue
to induce more businesses to expand their computerized
operations and integrate new technologies into them. In order to
maintain a competitive edge and operate more efficiently, firms
will keep demanding system analysts who are knowledgeable about
the latest technologies and are able to apply them to meet the
needs of businesses.
Increasingly, more sophisticated and complex technology is being
implemented across all organizations, which should fuel the
demand for these computer occupations. There is a growing demand
for system analysts to help firms maximize their efficiency with
available technology. Expansion of electronic commerce - doing
business on the Internet - and the continuing need to build and
maintain databases that store critical information on customers,
inventory, and projects are fueling demand for database
administrators familiar with the latest technology. Also, the
increasing importance being placed on "cybersecurity" -
the protection of electronic information - will result in a need
for workers skilled in information security.
The development of new technologies usually leads to demand for
various kinds of workers. The expanding integration of Internet
technologies into businesses, for example, has resulted in a
growing need for specialists who can develop and support
Internet and intranet applications. The growth of electronic
commerce means that more establishments use the Internet to
conduct their business online. The introduction of the wireless
Internet, known as WiFi, creates new systems to be analyzed. The
spread of such new technologies translates into a need for
information technology professionals who can help organizations
use technology to communicate with employees, clients, and
consumers. Explosive growth in these areas also is expected to
fuel demand for analysts who are knowledgeable about network,
data, and communications security.
As technology becomes more sophisticated and complex, employers
demand a higher level of skill and expertise from their
employees. Individuals with an advanced degree in computer
science or computer engineering, or with an MBA with a
concentration in information systems, should enjoy favorable
employment prospects. College graduates with a bachelor's degree
in computer science, computer engineering, information science,
or MIS also should enjoy favorable prospects for employment,
particularly if they have supplemented their formal education
with practical experience. Because employers continue to seek
computer specialists who can combine strong technical skills
with good interpersonal and business skills, graduates with
non-computer-science degrees, but who have had courses in
computer programming, systems analysis, and other information
technology subjects, also should continue to find jobs in
computer fields. In fact, individuals with the right experience
and training can work in computer occupations regardless of
their college major or level of formal education.
Repost from Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition
U.S. Department of Labor; Bureau of Labor Statistics; Bulletin
2600
See the original here.
20060308: Outsourcing of Computer Jobs a Misconception
While the perception that computing jobs are migrating
overseas dampens interest in math and science among college
students, a recent ACM study has found that the widespread
outsourcing of tech jobs is largely a myth. The fear that jobs
are disappearing could sap the domestic labor supply, warns
Robert Walker, associate professor of computer science at Kent
State University. ACM's task force of computer scientists,
economists, and social scientists found that between 2 percent
and 3 percent of computer-related jobs are being lost to
foreign countries, while new, higher-level domestic jobs are
being created in their place. "The offshoring of jobs in the
computer industry isn't a big problem," said C.C. Lu, computer
science professor at Kent State. "No matter how offshore it's
going, we still need a lot of software engineers here."
The ACM study also found that Canada is the most popular
destination for outsourced positions, followed by
Ireland. India ranks third, though much of the work there is
in low-level call center jobs. Call center work is considered
a career in India, and Walker contends that the country lacks
the infrastructure to establish the research required for
advanced computer jobs. "I hope the guidance counselors and
teachers don't give students wrong information," Walker
said. "Things aren't bad now, there are plenty of good-paying
jobs." Walker cautions, however, that fears of outsourcing
could become a self-fulfilling prophecy if they discourage
students from studying math and science, forcing
U.S. companies to look overseas for skilled workers. The NSF
has found that computer science graduates earn the highest
median income among all science graduates. To view
"Globalization and Offshoring of Software -- A Report of the ACM
Job Migration Task Force,"
visit this link
Daily Kent Stater (03/08/06) Whinnery, Megan
20060111: New BLS Projections: IT jobs to grow by more than
a million between 2004 and 2014
At the CRA Bulletin, Jay Vegso has the first part of what will
be a three-part look at the new Bureau of Labor Statistics
workforce projections for 2004-2014. Some noteable bits:
- The professional IT workforce added 134,000 jobs between 2002
and 2004, a significant turnaround from the period between 2000
and 2002, when the workforce shrank by 7,000 jobs. The overall
workforce added 1.6 million jobs between 2002 and 2004, but
numbered 145.6 million in both 2000 and 2004.
- The professional IT workforce is projected to add a little over
a million new jobs between 2004 and 2014, an increase of about
30 percent. In 2004, there were 3.4 million IT professionals out
of a total workforce of 145.6 million. The total workforce is
expected to add 18.9 million jobs between 2004 and 2014.
- Six of the 30 occupations that are projected to grow the fastest
(i.e., percent gain) between 2004 and 2014 are in the IT
profession. Among the 30 fastest-growing occupations, 17 have
median salary earnings of $43,605 or above, including all six IT
occupations.
- Two of the six IT occupations listed as the fastest growing also
rank among the 30 that are projected to have the largest numeric
growth. Only seven of these 30 have median salary earnings of
$43,605 or more, including both IT occupations.
Of course, the usual caveats for long-term projections of
anything should apply here ("notoriously unreliable," "a crap
shoot," etc) but this is the current "best guess" of your
Federal Government.
We've put some additional IT workforce data over at our IT
Workforce page. There you'll also find a link to an article
written by John Sargent, a senior policy analyst at the
Department of Commerce's Office of Technology Policy for
Computing Research News on the last set of projections. And to
top it off, Jay also has a number of good posts on the IT
workforce debate at the CRA Bulletin.
Repost from
here
20050921: What Makes a Great IT Pro
Australian IT managers predict that skills requirements for
professionals in their field will be more business- and
people-oriented five years from now. Sydney Harbor Foreshore
Authority IT manager Virginia Orr says there was a greater
concentration on operational and technical skills five years
ago, mostly because more manual intervention was necessary for
systems and applications; looking five years ahead, she thinks
IT managers will need to be more assertive "about working with
the business to understand its needs and identify where
technology offers a better solution." Orr advises managers to
expand their skills, possibly by pursuing studies in accounting
and law, or MBAs. IDC Australia's Peter Hind foresees better
communication and writing skills as critical considerations for
IT managers in the next half-decade. Among the qualities of
great IT managers Hind expects are a lack of tech zealotry, an
openness to options, savvy without recklessness or foolishness,
a priority on IT output, and boldness. Orr describes a vital IT
manager as one with skills in business analysis, budget
management, risk management, people management, and negotiation;
a strong focus on customer service; the ability to cultivate an
environment based on teamwork and personal development; and
proficiency in managing competing demands in a high-volume
setting. Former SunWater IT manager Luke Smith does not think
managers' shift in focus to business needs is necessarily a
positive step, as the emphasis on non-IT areas may cause
IT-centric issues such as security to receive less
attention. His advice for IT managers is to be honest about
their unfamiliarity with technology, to act as a leader rather
than a director, to be aware that the IT staff's requirements
and desires differ from those of other personnel, and above all,
to listen.
Click Here to View Full Article
Computerworld Australia (09/21/05); Gedda, Rodney.
Repost from
ACM technical News, Volume 7, Issue 847:
Wednesday, 28 September 2005
20050916: Computer Science Majors Find Jobs Easily
College students in the El Paso-Las Cruces area came out for a
free seminar involving IBM executives to learn more about the
opportunities available to them in pursuing a career in
information technology. "Hundreds of thousands of high-tech
jobs in the United States go unfulfilled because of the lack of
qualified computer science graduates," said IBM's Mark Hanny.
Hanny participated in the seminar at the University of Texas El
Paso, along with Irene Hernandez Roberts of Austin IBM, as part
of a series to get Hispanics and women more interested in the IT
industry. Ann Gates, director of the UTEP Computer Science
Department, said too many students believe the computer science
field is for geeks who enjoy sitting alone in front of a
computer all day. "Computer science majors are all over the
world, as well as in the local business community, coming up
with innovative ideas and applying them to solve problems," she
said. UTEP launched a computer science doctoral program this
fall, but Gates said the number of computer science majors has
reached a 10-year low because of the poor image people have of
tech jobs.
Click Here to View Full Article
El Paso Times (TX) (09/16/05); Flynn, Ken.
Repost from
ACM Technical News, Volume 7, Issue 843: 19 September 2005
20050916: Mainframe Programmers Wanted
Mainframe technology still pervades the industry, flouting the
oft-repeated prediction that its days are numbered: Indeed,
roughly 70 percent of corporate data are stored on mainframes.
As the baby-boomers near retirement, businesses are seeing a
shortage of programmers proficient with mainframe technology;
the brain drain is quite measurable, as only one mainframe
programmer is added for every two that leave the workforce.
"There is a growing concern we are rapidly losing qualified
people who understand mainframes, and we are subsequently losing
the capability to use the systems, which means ultimately if you
can't use them, they'll be left to rust," says Air Traffic
Software Architecture's Robert Stanley. University programs do
not adequately educate students about mainframes, and
outsourcing efforts have also compromised the influx of
mainframe programmers. Other analysts argue that the crush is
not so severe, noting that the average salary of mainframe
programmers has not skyrocketed as it would were the shortage
dire. Still, outsourcing efforts are undermining the job pool
for those programmers who are proficient with mainframes, which
often produces work of lesser quality. IBM has announced a
program of partnering with universities with the goal of
introducing 20,000 mainframe programmers into the workforce by
2010. More universities are including mainframe programs in
their curricula, but it remains a challenge to convince students
to pursue them, as many are being steered toward object-oriented
programming and believe that mainframes will soon be
obsolete.
Click Here to View Full Article
InformationWeek (09/12/05) No. 1055, P. 62; Dunn, Darrell.
Repost from
ACM technical News, Volume 7, Issue 842:
Friday, September 16, 2005
20050627: IT Field Now Faces Worker Shortage
In a dramatic reversal of the dismal job scene that followed
the dot-com collapse, many students graduating with computer
science degrees are finding jobs right out of college. While the
demand for computer scientists has cooled, the level of interest
among students in a field perceived as unstable and risky has
dropped off precipitously. The Higher Education Research
Institute at UCLA reports a 60 percent decline in interest among
freshman in computer science from 2000 to 2004. Declining
enrollment has many experts worried about the future of
America's IT workforce in the face of greater foreign
competition. "Students who majored in [computer science] because
they thought it meant instant riches dropped away," said
University of Virginia associate professor of computer science
Kevin Sullivan. With that myth now shattered, students are
looking increasingly toward other disciplines. In an effort to
address the problem, Intel is partnering with colleges to renew
interest in IT, and has given universities in California $2
million to create a program that will offer dual degrees in math
or computer science and teaching. Some schools, such as George
Mason University, are also shifting their curricula to emphasize
an interdisciplinary approach to computer science. "The logic
is, if we can teach people how they can apply computer science
to one discipline, they may be able to apply the same tools to
another discipline," said Arun Sood, chair of GMU's computer
science department.
Click Here to View Full Article
Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) (06/27/05); Kan, Michael.
Repost from
ACM technical News, Volume 7, Issue 810:
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
