by David Ticoll, National Post
Consider the tech field — information and communications technology (ICT). Tech is big. Even while employers resorted to off-shoring over the past 10 years, our ICT professional workforce grew from about 650,000 to 800,000. From entrepreneurs to consulting firms to hospitals, organizations can’t find enough people with the tech skills they need. The tech professional jobless rate is about 3%, near full employment. These jobs are important. In every sector of the economy, technology investments deliver innovation, better customer service and improved productivity. Tech is a big career opportunity. Yet many tech-related college and university programs haven’t filled their seats since the dotcom bust. According to a 2009 Conference Board of Canada survey, most young people have a vague idea at best what a tech career is about. Those with opinions (along with parents, teachers and guidance counsellors) tend to think it’s about sitting in front of a computer all day in a job that could ship to India at a moment’s notice. Women are especially turned off tech. Though a majority of the workforce and some 57% of university students, women are only a quarter of tech professionals.
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/10/03/david-ticoll-winning-the-jobs-war/
Share on Facebook