Technology medicine: as many as 425,000 high-tech jobs may go unfilled in coming years

Careers and Colleges, Jan-Feb, 2003

DANIEL FLAKE, 20, A MIDSHIPMAN AT THE U.S. NAVAL Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, always dreamed of becoming an astronaut and traveling to Mars. To make his career goal a reality, Flake has a coordinated plan--his very own mission to Mars, if you will. First came a high school course load heavy on math and science. Second, Flake researched colleges with strong aerospace engineering programs--the military academies, Embry-Riddle University, Texas A&M. (He chose the Naval Academy partly due to the school's strong record of turning out astronauts.) Next on his agenda after graduation will be fulfillment of his five-year service commitment to the Navy, as well as a stint in flight school. After years of hard work and flight training, Flake hopes to get noticed and hired by NASA.

"The big selling point of the academy was that I'm guaranteed a job, and I'll be following in the career footsteps of astronauts," he says.

If, like Flake, your idea of the perfect school day includes studying physics, dissecting frogs, or programming computers, then a career in technology or medicine may be for you. And developing your own mission plan now can only increase your chances for success.

TECHNOLOGY

While the heady, go-go atmosphere of Internet start-ups and stock options may be history, tech industries are here to stay.

A recent study by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) reported that as many as 425,000 high-tech jobs would go unfilled in coming years. But how has the flat economy affected this prediction? "Demand certainly isn't where it was," admits Marjorie Bynum, vice president of workforce development for the ITAA. "But what we're hearing is that companies are still looking for good people with IT skills." The good news is that job markets rebound, and for high school students looking to enter the workforce in two to four years, technology careers are a good bet.

The BLS reports that five of the top 10 fastest growing jobs are tech-related--computer engineers, computer support specialists, systems analysts, database administrators, and desktop publishing specialists.

"It's never too soon to begin talking to guidance counselors and doing some homework on different IT careers," says Bynum. She also suggests boning up on English, reading, and communication skills, which are important for well-rounded employees seeking promotions. While a bachelor's degree can lead to great-paying jobs, many community colleges can prepare you for tech jobs, too.

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Jana Mitchell always wanted to be a nurse. "I find the human body fascinating," she says. "Plus, I enjoy helping people." A job-shadowing project where she followed a hospital nurse convinced her further. Mitchell, 20, is now studying nursing at Rivier College in Nashua, New Hampshire.

The good news for Mitchell is that the BLS projects that by 2006 health care services will jump 30 percent and account for 3.1 million new jobs. An aging population will need more services-continued care, therapy, and rehabilitation. Opportunities for nurses and physicians are expected to grow. On average advanced-practice nurses, with training beyond the two to four years of basic nursing education, earn $47,700 to $82,000 per year. Physicians earn about $102,000 per year.

But those salaries come at a price. Becoming a physician requires 12 years of expensive training. The average medical student graduates with a $100,000 debt. Physicians often work long, irregular hours. Still, most find treating patients to be rewarding. See "Allied Health" below for information on other health care careers.

SYSTEMS ANALYST

Alex Thompson

AGE: 26

LOCATION: Fort Gordon, GA

JOB: Information systems operator/analyst for the U.S. Army

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in political science from Jackson State University in Mississippi. Analysts must be familiar with computer programs, including Unix, Windows, and Microsoft Office.

SALARY: Median annual salary is $55,973.

ON THE JOB: "The military wants to be on top of the latest technology," says Thompson, whose rank is "Specialist" (SPC). Army, Navy, and Air Force members who need technology training go to Fort Gordon, which is the headquarters of the U.S. Army Signal Center and home to the School of Information Technology. Throughout the day, Thompson receives work orders to de-bug (remove errors from), analyze, install, and maintain computer hardware and software. He may be protecting computers from viruses or updating systems with the latest versions of software. Thompson must constantly keep up with new technology. He and his colleagues often share information about solutions to computer problems. "You've got to be willing to learn from everybody," he says. His last big project was to upgrade a whole classroom. Every so often, Thompson confronts a new problem and must "be creative to find a solution."

STARTING OUT: "I have always loved computers," Thompson says. His penchant for technology followed him into high school, where he took computer management classes, and college, where he worked on a minor in computer science.