ITAA Study: Demand for U.S. Tech Workers at Historic Low
5/14/2003 -- The 2003 IT Workforce Study released earlier this month by the Information Technology Association Association (ITAA) found that demand for IT workers in the U.S. has dropped to "historic lows."
Based on surveys of 400 IT and non-IT companies throughout the US, the organization predicts that employers will be hiring only 493,000 IT workers during the next 12 months down from 1.6 million at the start of 2000 and less than one-half of the 1.1 million positions predicted needed at the start of 2002.
Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed said they thought hiring demand would stay the same or decline over the next twelve months.
The ITAA also found that more positions are moving overseas, with 12% of IT companies and 3% of non-IT companies saying they have already opened up overseas operations. According to the study, large IT companies were most likely to say theyve made this move 22% have already moved work offshore. Additionally, 15% of IT firms say they will move, or are undecided about moving, jobs overseas in the next twelve months, while 4% of non-IT firms say the same.
The survey placed the size of the US IT workforce at 10.3 million, with hiring and terminations amounting to less-than-one-percent growth during first quarter of 2003, and the IT workforce growing by 86,000 -- 11,000 below the 97,000 in the slowest quarter of 2002.
Other findings of this year's study include:
- IT companies in the Midwest and West are most likely to send jobs overseas.
- Seventy four percent of companies say they have not changed compensation for IT workers in the past twelve months. Of companies taking action, only 8% lowered pay.
- 91% of companies were able to meet or exceed their hiring plans in 2002. For non-IT companies, both hiring and terminations were down roughly 25% in the last twelve months.
- IT companies appear to be more likely to cut wages than non-IT companies.
If the demand for IT workers is an indicator of business growth, our survey results are not encouraging, commented ITAA President Harris N. Miller in a printed statement announcing the study findings. The fact that firms have dramatically scaled back force reductions may indicate that they are properly staffed to handle existing and new business. There are several bright points, such as companies adding technical support workers at the highest levels and the fact that most workers are not seeing pay cuts.
For more information or to download an executive summary of the study, visit ITAA.org.  - B.N.
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There are 106  user Comments for “ITAA Study: Demand for U.S. Tech Workers at Historic Low”
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| 5/28/03: Anonymous says: |
ummm...I think they can...what are you saying here? Your kids can't? Teach them better dad... |
| 5/30/03: Matt from Pennsylvania says: |
I think that many training schools are to blame. I still see ads on TV that state that with certification you can be on your way to a high paying career. Sure, your on your way as soon as you find a job, pay off the tech loans, and work for 5 years to get to $30K. |
| 6/3/03: Mark from Canada says: |
So how many of you gave a sh*t when you purchased something built elsewhere back in the good times? I bet you continued to run down to WalMart and buy foriegn product because it was cheaper. Well now it's your turn and let it be a lesson. Stop looking to save a penny and support your local business if at all possible. Globalization serves only the wealthy. |
| 6/1/03: Anonymous says: |
I think that Becky only encouraged many people to imitate mo' money and go on posting sprees to imitate him in an attempt to get him censored |
| 6/6/03: looni4linux from Portland OR says: |
To anonymous 5/15/03: Carly probably got more in her raise than you'll make this year, next year, and the year after - combined. |
| 6/6/03: looni4linux from Portland OR says: |
Incidentally, how much you make or how many benis you get depend as much on how replaceable you are and how 'in' you are with management, as how much you know, or how hard you work. If you have power and influence behind you, there is no telling how far (or how high) you can go, know-it-all or not. My advice to the unemployed is, network, network, network. My advice to the 'employed' is, network, network, network. That's where the payoff is. |
| 6/9/03: Petey from Ireland says: |
We're in the same boat over here in Ireland with a lot of work going "off shore"........only in our case the customer had to come back to us because the standard of the work coming back to him was crap........needless to say he paid bigtime for the fixes and eventually lost a lot on money........you get what you pay for sometimes.... |
| 6/9/03: Patch from Boston says: |
I have (formerly) worked in IT since 1990. IT personnel got access to everything that was distracting, and it was embarrassing. Specifically: downloading and then emailing around things like the WASSUP! Super friends video, participating in web based fantasy league sports, instant messaging people from far away, and occasionally day trading over the internet. I am not above any of that, but the very same surfers would fold up like a cheap lawn chair when the technical problems would starting coming their way. |
| 6/13/03: Anonymous says: |
Ireland can hum my left nutsack! |
| 6/18/03: Anonymous says: |
All industry's as a whole are down right now, so all this talk of changing industies really isn't going to help. Good jobs are hard to find, even in allied health. I know nurses that are unemployed due to the fact they don't want to work 70 hours a week on third shift. I recently got laid-off, but before my ending date, I hustled and found a job. I went on 20 plus interviews, and finally got a job. Hard work and determination, and I wasn't going to turn tail and run like some of you cowards. Get out of IT and leave the real work for real IT workers is what I say! Most of you got into the IT business just because the money was good, well those days are gone people and in a way I am glad, weed out the none skilled individuals. I love this field and wouldn't dream of doing anything else, I am a Tech and that is all I am, forget management as well, because they are as guilty of this mess were in as anybody. So for all those 'wanna be switching industries' leave the door is open. |
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