Current Unemployment Rate in the IT Industry? 117
concerned-about-employment asks: "What's the unemployment rate in the IT industry currently? Years ago I heard it was 8-9% but with so many jobs going offshore and the general unemployment rate rising, could it be even higher than before? Has it really broken 10% as some people say? That would mean 1 out of every 10 IT workers is out of a job. Personally though, from the perspective of a recent college graduate, it looks like 20% from here." How does the actual national unemployment rate in IT compare to the number of IT professionals that you know who are currently out of work?
Make sure you differentiate (Score:3, Interesting)
Just got rehired (Score:5, Interesting)
Also, be prepared to move to different parts of the country. From what I hear, Silicon Valley isnt so hot any more, but other areas, like Conn. and Raleigh/Durham, NC are much better.
Just remember, the national unemployment rates (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:College Grads (Score:3, Interesting)
Certs have gained great importance in this industry for a reason. I know many with 3.8+ GPA fresh out of college, but they know only the Java/ADA/Pascal/Microsoft Office/Visio that was taught to them. IT is too fast a moving target for professors to properly tailor courses for the job.
2004 will be better than 2003. In the last two months in 2003, I received two calls from employers, but received none during the 16 months before that. Another interesting thing is the prices of used cisco 2924 switches and 2600 routers have increased by 30% all of a sudden. People are geared up for studying harder and competing, and this attitude will lift the market. The energy in the IT and geek circles in itself will improve things a little... and then both the effects of Sept 11 and Iraq War are over.
I should so get back to advanced BGP routes and leave slashdot worship. Its killing my future the way Everquest almost did.
Re:Add one (Score:2, Interesting)
>> not much "entry level" stuff out there
If you don't have the logical skills to connect these two points, I certainly woulnd't hire you. It's tough right now, take a job.
I had trouble a couple of years ago, the company (where I was a System Engineer) folded, I eventually took a job installing cable modems and TV. Working hard, and showing that I was competent got me a promotion to Trainer within a few weeks. When THAT company folded, it took a few months to get a job at a software company (that wrote DOCSIS software), that I wouldn't have gotten if not for the experience at the cable company. The things I did there paved the way for the cool job I have now, after THAT company folded.
Just start working.
Oh, and I never had any fancy technical degree. Back when I was in school, we got our porn on floppies.
Re:Do it as your hobby (Score:2, Interesting)
I agree with this, although my case is very different.
I started programming computers professionally when I was 12 years old - it started as a hobby, but fortunately for me in 1982 anyone with any sort of production experience with computers could find work. Lucky for me I was interested in filesystems work back then - that seriously propelled me into the stratosphere as a working programmer.
It hasn't changed - I still code for the fun of it, but it has fed me all these years quite well.
My current job combines all of my hobbies (music, electronics, programming, design, living in a foreign land) and I still get paid. I attribute this situation (ideal) to the fact that I have -always- enjoyed computer science first, and sought to make a living from it second.
I'd be happy hauling bricks 8 hours a day if I knew I could have at least 4 hours hacking time at home, but as it happens I don't need to... There is *PLENTY* of work for those who are serious about computer science, and very little work for dilettantes who only got into it for the money/prestige/security.
I consider that whatever 'slumps' there are in the "IT" industry (man, I hate "IT", what a shit name for this business) to be pretty much the result of a massive influx of dilettantes. It has to be said: the MTV generation are dilettante like no other...
Shouldn't mailrooms never exitst? (Score:3, Interesting)
Why does any company have a mailroom? Or a copy shop. I know how to run a copy machine, and I can put a stamp on an envelope. In truth though, there is a lot of work involved in copies and stamps that isn't visiable from the outside.
I've seen presidents drop 50 pages in a document feeder on the copier, if he can handle it why does the company have a copy room? Answer: because the company sometimes publishes manuals more than a copy or two. The president would make 2 copies of that 50 page document, but more than that and he is better off letting someone else do it. The president could in theory learn to bind those copies, but if he wants a nice presentation better letting someone with expirence do it. (I can bind a book, but expirecnced people can do it nicely)
I can put one letter in the mail. When I need to mail one letter it is faster to do it myself. When I need 100 letters it is better to have the mailroom do it.
Re:Just remember, the national unemployment rates (Score:3, Interesting)
They actually maintain 6 different figures, with the one hovering around 5% being the one that gets reported in the media. The actual number of people really unemployment (as I take it to mean not having a job) is up around 9%-10%.
Here's their PDF [bls.gov] explaining the various levels.
--Darren
Re:Do it as your hobby (Score:2, Interesting)
Not so sure about that. I can see things like radiology, where the images may be transmitted digitally, could be outsourced and eventually offshored (NAFTA I believe provides some sort of license transparency, and even if it doesn't, you could possible form a company where the dr.s get licensed in US but operate out of another country)
Even within the US though, companies are probably trying to replace higher cost dr.s with lower cost nurses (or other staff). For example replacing anasthesiologists dr.s with nurse anasthetists.
Lawyers of course probably have job security. I mean, when you make the laws, then just make replacing you illegal or sue them for taking your job
Of course this is all speculation. This wouldn't be slashdot if I could actually back any of this up.
Re:College Grads Grab the Spots (Score:3, Interesting)
I was going to apply for a job there, but was told that it's not really open, they just advertise for a minimum number of days before they hire the overseas guy - a technicality. I spoke with the unemployment agency about this and they said they will side with the employer on this every time. If I want I could force an interview, but they will likely just make something up and choose not to hire me. Oh and they were only REALLY planning on paying about half what the add said.