Computerworld: IT industry shrinks as employer in past decade

[ilconsiglliere]

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9220545/IT_industry_shrinks_as_employer_in_past_decade

Some interest statistics from the article. We can blame the offshoring of all the jobs. Keep in mind that the H1B/L1 Visa thing has exploded in the last 10 years. Stagnant job market and more people is never good. There is an interesting map where you can click on each state and see how its changed.

Total employed in IT in 2001: 6.5M
Total employed in IT in 2011: 5.9M

Tech manufacturing in 2001: 1.8M
Tech manufacturing in 2011: 1.27M

Communication services in 2000: 1.8M
Communication services in 2011: 1.2M

Software Services in 2000: 1.6M
Software Services in 2011: 1.77M

Engineering and tech services in 2005: 1.5M
Engineering and tech services in 2011: 1.64M

[Richardk]

And yet I keep seeing stories that claim IT is a growth profession that's in the top 5 or top 10 of many lists.

So unless the definition of a system analyst or similar has changed, I don't see how both can be true. Personally I see a decline.

[DarkHumour]

And I am guessing that the maximum number of h1bs is somewhere between 65 and 100 thousand admitted per year that would mean with a maximum of two three year periods (original plus renewal) that at any one year there is 390 and 600 thousand employed.  About 6 and 10 percent ?

L1s have no cap.

DarkHumour

[PhilFromNY]

And yet I keep seeing stories that claim IT is a growth profession that's in the top 5 or top 10 of many lists.

So unless the definition of a system analyst or similar has changed, I don't see how both can be true. Personally I see a decline.

The US BLS considers users of networked cash registers to be in IT.

[ilconsiglliere]

And yet I keep seeing stories that claim IT is a growth profession that's in the top 5 or top 10 of many lists.

So unless the definition of a system analyst or similar has changed, I don't see how both can be true. Personally I see a decline.

The US BLS considers users of networked cash registers to be in IT.

Thats like how making hamburgers is considered manufacturing

[Richardk]

Good grief! And we wonder why there are protests.

Working a "networked cash register" doesn't pay like IT, neither does making hamburgers pay like manufacturing.

I can see the ads now for the next election: "I have a good manufacturing job, bought my house and put my two kids through college. Yup, flipping burgers really paid off for me."

Had to add: "And my kids worked in IT and Finance while going to school. Running that networked cash register and handling all that money while working at Target really prepared them for a dual career on Wall Street."

[DG9]

And yet I keep seeing stories that claim IT is a growth profession that's in the top 5 or top 10 of many lists.

If you dig down, many of these "lists" they are really cleaver ads for "schools" offering training in these "highly desirable" fields...

[Walter Mitty]

And yet I keep seeing stories that claim IT is a growth profession that's in the top 5 or top 10 of many lists.

If you dig down, many of these "lists" they are really cleaver ads for "schools" offering training in these "highly desirable" fields...

I think that "cleaver ads" as a typo is right up there with "bork".  It deserves to be part of the language!

[DG9]

A digital stutter indeed, how did that "a" sneak in there!  These school are great for tapping government money and saddling students with HUGE student loans.  When the students get out, they are lucky if they get to work one of those networked cash registers at Target.  I've also noticed that the testimonials on TV for these schools contain dates in small print that are from a ways back...

[benali72]

And while all this goes on, all of us keep reading articles about how companies can't find enough people with the right technical skills to fulfill their positions...   (amazing how the press eats up stuff like that at face value from players who have obvious interest in the outcome).

[Walter Mitty]

And while all this goes on, all of us keep reading articles about how companies can't find enough people with the right technical skills to fulfill their positions...   (amazing how the press eats up stuff like that at face value from players who have obvious interest in the outcome).

Age of deception.

[David Randolph]

And while all this goes on, all of us keep reading articles about how companies can't find enough people with the right technical skills to fulfill their positions...   (amazing how the press eats up stuff like that at face value from players who have obvious interest in the outcome).

Actually, most of those "technical skills" are what many schools consider "vocational skills" and have dropped "because all kids need to go to college". We have a school system that is designed to produce college bound kids and drop outs.

[unix]

This is eye-opening.