March, 2005
The job market is back. Firms are staffing aggresively at all levels. Managers and staff. Developers and project managers. J2EE & C++ developers, full time or contract.
Salaries and billing rates have not moved up yet . . . but they will as firms come to realize that there are labor shortages.
Labor shortages? Consider this. The number of students entering computer science programs during the past few years has declined; after all, all the press has been negative about tehnology as a career and kids have watched their parents struggle with being unemployed.
Consider this. Congress has cut in halfthe number of H1B visa employees allowed to enter the US.
Now there are no shortages of technicians, network administrators, help desk or desktop support professionals. These are seen as "commodity" jobs.
But there are shortages in many other areas that will not be solved very easily and, although offshoring will solve some problems, firms have discovered that it is not a panacea for cost contanment.
Where will employers find candidates for jobs?
Their own staff and job training. There are people who are working for companies who can be trained to be technologists. These budgets have been eradicated and need to get funded. I'm not talking about "send a programmer to school for a week" training. I'm talking about sending an acountant to school or sending a financial analyst to school.
Salaries and consulting rates are going to be pushed up in the next few years.
Let's enjoy the ride.
Jeff Altman
Concepts in Staffing
jeffaltman@cisny.com
Salaries and billing rates have not moved up yet . . . but they will as firms come to realize that there are labor shortages.
Labor shortages? Consider this. The number of students entering computer science programs during the past few years has declined; after all, all the press has been negative about tehnology as a career and kids have watched their parents struggle with being unemployed.
Consider this. Congress has cut in halfthe number of H1B visa employees allowed to enter the US.
Now there are no shortages of technicians, network administrators, help desk or desktop support professionals. These are seen as "commodity" jobs.
But there are shortages in many other areas that will not be solved very easily and, although offshoring will solve some problems, firms have discovered that it is not a panacea for cost contanment.
Where will employers find candidates for jobs?
Their own staff and job training. There are people who are working for companies who can be trained to be technologists. These budgets have been eradicated and need to get funded. I'm not talking about "send a programmer to school for a week" training. I'm talking about sending an acountant to school or sending a financial analyst to school.
Salaries and consulting rates are going to be pushed up in the next few years.
Let's enjoy the ride.
Jeff Altman
Concepts in Staffing
jeffaltman@cisny.com
