On the technology job market: slight decline in new computer science majors, prompts researchers to ponder current, future state of technology employment - Special report: technology in higher Ed

Black Issues in Higher Education, March 13, 2003 by Phaedra Brotherton

"This suggests an ongoing demand for skilled IT workers," Bynum says. She says that ITAA believes it remains important for companies to have access to foreign workers to meet specific industry demands. But she adds that ITAA does support continued development and training of the U.S. IT work force.

Many professional groups, however, question whether the current cap of 195,000 on the number of H-1B visas permitted encourages companies to hire foreign professionals, who are often paid lower wages, instead of re-training and hiring the many U.S. IT workers who are now unemployed.

H-1B visas are issued to foreign nationals for temporary employment in certain specialty occupations. In October 2000, the U.S. Congress raised the annual H-1B visa cap to 195,000. When this authorization expires on Sept. 30, the cap will revert to 65,000 unless Congress takes further action.

IEEE-USA, a professional society representing more than 235,000 electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers, is mounting an effort to return the yearly number of H-1B visa workers permitted to the 65,000 level.

"Congress should let the H-1B visa level return to its historical 65,000 level," IEEE-USA president-elect John Steadman says. "We believe this is an appropriate position, especially in light of record unemployment among U.S. engineers and computer scientists."

Private employers who want to hire H-1B workers must pay the government a $1,000 application fee, most of which goes to support technician-level training projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and scholarships administered by the National Science Foundation. IEEE-USA believes Congress should see to it that revenue from the H-1B program goes toward retraining unemployed engineers, scientists and other high-tech professionals already in the United States.

"In the long term, it should focus on supporting programs that help financially needy students complete degrees in computer science, engineering and mathematics," Steadman says.

EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK FOR NEW GRADS

Despite the economic downturn and debate of the IT skills shortage, the outlook for the IT work force appears to be on the upswing, says ITAA's Bynum.

"According to ITAA's most recent research, there appears to be a stabilization in the IT work force as both hiring and dismissals of IT professionals have slowed considerably from the past periods," she says. This decrease in the rate of IT professionals being let go, suggests that employers may be feeling "cautiously optimistic," when thinking about their future hiring needs, adds Bynum. "This could be good news for new college graduates who are seeking IT jobs."

Bynum says opportunities seem to be best in technical support and Web and database development. A new and emerging area is information security, which Bynum says is a "growing and thriving area that holds employment opportunities for highly skilled college graduates." However, network administration has experienced a slight decline in demand.

Bynum says that academic and career advisers should stress to new and potential computer science graduates the importance of hands-on experience. "Experience counts in today's IT job market," she says. "A degree alone will not guarantee you a job or even an interview with an employer."