Jobs Still Remain Available for IT School Graduates Guest Column br Rose Marie Dishman With a new semester, many high school seniors as well as college students are faced with a big decision: selecting a college major. These days, students are very conscious of their job prospects when choosing a field of study. However, recent newspaper articles may have some students concerned. Numerous media stories describe massive company layoffs, disappointing corporate earnings and downturns in the stock market. At the forefront of discussions about the economy is the technology sector. If current students interpret newspaper headlines to mean there is a shortage of positions for technologically educated workers, they are very mistaken. Not long ago, it was common to read articles about the extreme measures businesses took to attract technology workers. Reports of free gifts ranging from Palm Pilots to BMWs were widespread. Today, however, some media stories attempt to contrast these past opulent images with visions of technology workers with no options but the unemployment office. This image of the unwanted technology worker is as unreal now as it was a year ago. American businesses still need technology graduates. Media stories suggesting differently are a disservice to the interests of American business. Despite the dot-com bust, American companies continue to struggle to find enough technologically educated workers to meet their needs. Major technology firms from Intel to Cisco Systems are actually lobbying the government to increase the number of visas available for technologically skilled foreign workers. They are doing so because they need to make up for shortfalls in the U.S. workforce. As pointed out by a spokesperson for the nation’s number one chipmaker, Intel, “The [economic] downturn does not reduce the demand for highly skilled technical folks.” Smaller companies like Delta Design have been playing catch-up to meet their staffing needs. According to recruiter Alastair Harwell, one of their biggest challenges has been competing with larger companies who have “absorbed much of the talent” and “cornered the market on recent graduates.” Students should also note that technology companies are not the only ones who are driving the demand for technical workers. Most businesses today need some form of technical support to manage their information systems and/or e-commerce sites. In fact, non-IT companies remain the largest employer of IT workers in the United States, employing 10 times more IT workers than IT companies, according to the ITAA. Students may also want to consider that graduates with degrees in computer-related fields on average make more money than other graduates. How much more? The Census Bureau recently released its finding that graduates in technical fields make on average $1,100 a month more than those with degrees in social sciences. “Majoring in a technical field does pay off,” notes bureau analyst Kurt Bauman. Speaking from my experience on the frontlines of the technology industry, I can assure you that American businesses need qualified college graduates armed with degrees in technology-related fields. In fact, it is worth noting that every year we have operated in California, student enrollment at DeVry Institute of Technology has expanded and still more than 96 percent of our graduates find employment (or were already employed) in their field of study within six months of graduating. As the statistics demonstrate, the demand is out there. Regardless of where you choose to pursue your degree, don’t be discouraged by newspaper headlines. If you have an interest in this field, opportunity is knocking. Rose Marie Dishman is the president of DeVry Institute of Technology in Southern California and holds a doctorate in physics. DeVry Institute of Technology campuses are located in West Hills, Long Beach and Pomona.
