The IT labor shortage in the US is reaching critical proportions, according to market analyst the Meta Group. The company says there are about 400,000 unfilled technology positions in the US, and not enough IT graduates to meet demand.
American colleges and universities have been graduating about 25,000 technology students a year since 1997, but this is not enough, says Meta. Since 1997, demand for IT professionals has increased at an average of 25% a year and, overall, there are now four million IT workers in the US, a 33% increase over the past two years. Many of those people enjoy higher salaries than their business counterparts, it says, because of the skills shortage.
To tackle the problem, says Meta, many organizations outsource their IT staff needs. It estimates that 20% to 30% of the current IT workforce is outsourced. Many even import talent from other countries – the US government was forced to authorize an extra 145,000 visas in 1998. However, Meta claims that more students are now entering computer sciences, so the shortage may not last.
The survey also suggests there has been a shift in key skills requirements. While technical skills remain important, says Meta, good business sense is just as crucial for those embarking on a career in IT. The increased complexity of systems environments has also forced colleges and universities to modify their curriculums.
