For high school or college graduates just venturing out into the working world, technology may be the answer to the question, “where are all the good jobs?” A survey just released by AeA, a technology polling group, shows that the tech industry continues to grow at a healthy pace, despite recent fears of recession and hiring freezes.
The results of the survey, which is entitled “Cybercities 2008,” showed that high tech jobs are plentiful in the US, especially in the larger metropolitan areas. Jobs in software engineering and microchip manufacturing were particularly strong, with metropolitan cities such as Seattle, New York and Washington, DC among the fastest growing areas for tech related employment.
Statistically, the area of the country with the greatest growth in tech jobs is San Bernardino California. Tech related employment increased by an estimated 12% in the area, which is near both Los Angeles and Orange County. Silicon Valley in Northern California also saw substantial job growth, as did the Boulder Colorado Metro area.
But a few of the new “boom towns” for tech jobs might surprise you. Both Huntsville Alabama and Durham, North Carolina were in the top five for well-paid tech related positions. Not surprisingly though, the highest average salaries in the field are still in Silicon Valley, where average tech employee wages are $144,000 annually, nearly double the national average of $80,000.
San Francisco, Oakland, Austin and Seattle were not far behind Silicon Valley in average wages. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico had the lowest average salaries for tech workers, coming in at approximately $38,000 annually. However, living expenses in Puerto Rico are substantially lower than those on the mainland, resulting in more buying power for the relatively low salary.
Overall, it appears there is a shortage of applicants for many tech related jobs. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says that over 850,000 new IT jobs will be created by the year 2016. So the demand for skilled tech workers is certainly there; but what about the supply?
A survey by the Computing Research Association shows a 20 percent decrease in the number of students graduating in computer related fields over the past 10 years. The study, which was released just this March, found that less American students are enrolling in computer related coursework in 2008 then they were in 1998.
All of this research seems to confirm what many large American tech companies have been saying for years: there are simply not enough qualified US citizens to fill all the technical positions available. Accordingly, Silicon Valley has seen a huge influx of foreign nationals accepting tech jobs on H1B work visas.
But with the limited number of H1B work visas available, many companies are struggling to fill vacancies, pushing up the salaries for tech workers and creating a “buyer’s market” when it comes to finding a new job. For American students concerned about hiring freezes and economic downturns, studying a tech related field is a smart way to secure a well-paid job, even if other industries aren’t hiring.
Well some good news…we need it..The doom and gloom is enough already…It just makes things worse.. We have to have some optimism to survive.. There seems to always be a job for a hardworker…Just change a few standards…and get in line…carol stanley
http://www.spectacularlifeaftersixty.blogspot.com/
Comment by carol stanley — July 6, 2008 @ 11:21 am