Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Current Unemployment Rate in the IT Industry?

Posted by Cliff on from the paper-versus-experience dept.

concerned-about-employment asks: "What's the unemployment rate in the IT industry currently? Years ago I heard it was 8-9% but with so many jobs going offshore and the general unemployment rate rising, could it be even higher than before? Has it really broken 10% as some people say? That would mean 1 out of every 10 IT workers is out of a job. Personally though, from the perspective of a recent college graduate, it looks like 20% from here." How does the actual national unemployment rate in IT compare to the number of IT professionals that you know who are currently out of work?

4 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. College Grads by saden1 · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you just finished school you better have some internship experience. Also, don't demand too much money. I've seen people ask for 60K who just came out of school. For that kind of money one can hire a skilled person with experience nowadays.

    Oh and if you procrastinated through out college you are fucked. I have friends who if today came to me for a job I wouldn't hire. It is sad but true.

    --

    -----
    One is born into aristocracy, but mediocrity can only be achieved through hard work.
  2. Official US number is 7.2% by DeepRedux · · Score: 4, Informative

    According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in the "information" section was 7.2% in December 2002 and 6.5% in December of 2003. The actual number of unemployed was 255K in 12/2002 and 224 in 12/2003.

  3. Well, in 2002... by Dr.+Bent · · Score: 3, Informative

    The SAGE/SANS/BigAdmin survey done for 2002 says that 15.3% of thier respondants were unemployed for at least a week during the year (I don't have a link offhand, but Google might). They won't post the 2003 survey until March, but I would be suprised if 2003 was worse than 2002.

    I've gotten calls from two recuiters looking for people in the last week. I think I got a grand total of 0 calls in 2002, and maybe a couple in 2003. I think people are realizing that not everything can be moved offshore and that programmers with domain/business experience are actually worth what you pay them here in the states. Dell, for example, is moving some of thier IT facilities back to the US after outsourcing it to India.

    I hate to jinx it, but I think the worst is over. It may not be 1999 again anytime soon, but the storm clouds are clearing.

  4. Re:1 in 10? by obeythefist · · Score: 3, Informative

    MCSE's don't need to know percentages. There's a little bar that tells you when the job is done when it gets to the end.

    --
    I am government man, come from the government. The government has sent me. -- G.I.R.