Tech Layoffs Fading, But No Hiring Boom

Investor's Business Daily ^ | October 20, 2003 | Jed Graham

[dwd1]

The thing that this author is missing is the changes in the job market relevant to consolidation. One of the reasons that many in IT are having trouble getting back to work is that there is a trend in hiring one person and demanding that the one person have a very diverse set of skills. This was previously required the hiring of more than one person but now, employers expect to get a person who can do database development, interface development, data conversion, network management, customer support, and hardware. Many of us in IT find ourselves obsolete when there was high demand for our skills less than three years ago. Also, with the cost of going back to school to learn new technologies becoming very expensive, it is getting a little rough out here. Asking someone to program in VB, Unix, C++, Java, SQL Server, and Oracle is like asking someone to speak and write Chinese, German, Arabic, and English. And they only want to pay 50,000 a year. Things are a little rough right now....

[dwd1]

The thing that this author is missing is the changes in the job market relevant to consolidation. One of the reasons that many in IT are having trouble getting back to work is that there is a trend in hiring one person and demanding that the one person have a very diverse set of skills. This was previously required the hiring of more than one person but now, employers expect to get a person who can do database development, interface development, data conversion, network management, customer support, and hardware. Many of us in IT find ourselves obsolete when there was high demand for our skills less than three years ago. Also, with the cost of going back to school to learn new technologies becoming very expensive, it is getting a little rough out here. Asking someone to program in VB, Unix, C++, Java, SQL Server, and Oracle is like asking someone to speak and write Chinese, German, Arabic, and English. And they only want to pay 50,000 a year. Things are a little rough right now....

[Snerfling]

should be an electrician or plumber

An engineer (EE or CE), not a hands on guy. Don't see any of the big santiation/water districts outsourcing engineering overseas.

[AGreatPer]

"Don't see any of the big santiation/water districts outsourcing engineering overseas."

Why am I getting this picture in my mind. "Ok, Rt322 needs a new electrical system from the main plant, or, The sanitation system has to go up to Chambers Hill road, we need a new design and proposal". Continued.........Let's send the drawings to India for a proposal.

Scary stuff. But I guess it could happen.

[AGreatPer]

My point is; With the technology today and in the future, I can't think of anything that can't be outsoursed to India, etc, except fixing your home wireing and plumming. Maybe the kid is on to something.

I'm trying to set the kid in the right direction. It is not easy.

He has told me already. "Dad, Im gonna get a scholarship on soccer somewhere, lets not waste it." He has good shoulders atteched to his head. lol

[XBob]

the high wage US trade and engineering jobs are exactly why they are pushing illegal immegration, to drop the wage rates here in the US, and legal (special visa immigration) to drop the wage rates on technical jobs that are not readily exportable.

The whole plan is to bring the US wage level down to those of the 3rd world.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

As some old-line manufacturing industries move overseas, the U.S. will need to provide high-skill, high-tech jobs to replace them.

Yes we will need more high-tech jobs in the future, but the problem is companies will just lobby Congress to bring in cheaper foreigners if and when they materialize.

Maybe the politicians in Washington can tell us what they think Americans are supposed to do besides sit at home, collect welfare and watch Jerry Springer if they give everyone's jobs away?