Slashdot Mirror
Tech Sector Expansion Blunting U.S. Job Outsourcing
xzvf writes "BusinessWeek summarizes a new report from the American Electronics Association (now known as AeA) that they think mitigates the effect of outsourcing on IT employment. US demand for tech workers is through the roof, the highest it has been since the boom of the late 90s. The tech sector added some 150,000 new jobs 2006, and there are no signs that interest will flag in the near future. 'There is so much global demand for employees proficient in programming languages, engineering, and other skills demanding higher level technology knowledge that outsourcing can't meet all U.S. needs. "There would have been a lot more than 147,000 jobs created here, but our companies are having difficulty finding Americans with the background," says William Archey, president and chief executive of the AeA. One culprit is the dearth of U.S. engineering and computer science college graduates. Second, immigration caps have made it difficult for highly skilled foreign-born employees to obtain work visas. Congress has been debating whether to increase the numbers of foreign skilled workers allowed into the country under the H-1B visa program.' "
Hmmm. My recent house repainting seems to disagree. I find it hard to believe painters were being paid thousands for a couple of days work some 20-years ago. If it were anywhere near true, the market would be saturated with painters and I would have paid much less for my house's paint job.
Long story short, I paid a fair price to my house painter based on current market economics. I imagine 20 years ago, they were paid a fair price given the economics at the time. At any rate, I'm sure yesterday's and today's prices would not be anywhere near the same.