Rumours of IT demise have been greatly exaggerated
By David Ticoll (guest blogger), Executive Director of the Canadian Coalition for Tomorrow’s ICT Skills (CCICT)
The IT industry will need to hire another 150,000 new professionals by 2015, but enrollments in university and college IT programs are down dramatically — 33 to 40 per cent, in fact. Given the growing demand for professionals in this field, students are missing the prosperity boat by turning away from IT. Parents should reinforce that IT is where students should focus their energy.
IT jobs play a critical and integral role in how well business organizations function, and those who know how to design, manage, implement and lead the use of modern technology are high in demand in the upper echelons of the business world.
The same is true for those who go down the road of specializing in a technology-oriented area, such as web design, social media or computer security. There's also an explosion of creative, multidisciplinary opportunities that interweave IT with anything from health care and biology to architecture and animation.
Research conducted by the Conference Board of Canada and funded by Bell for the Canadian Coalition for Tomorrow’s ICT Skills (CCICT) shows the problem lies in high school students’ misperceptions that IT leads to boring, monotonous, uncreative jobs that are carried out in cubicles located in suburban warehouse-like settings.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. Take, for example, the team of University of Toronto hackers that exposed the GhostNet international spyware conspiracy, or the green energy technologists helping to build Ontario’s next generation “smart” power grid, or biotech researchers who use their IT skills to research the causes and cures of diseases; none of these are boring or ordinary roles. It’s important we begin to educate today’s youth on the possibilities within IT. There are 150,000 opportunities out there for the taking.
About CCICT:
Founded in 2007 by Bell Canada, CCICT is an industry-led, action-oriented, open multi-stakeholder initiative. Its mission is to ensure that Canadian organizations can engage information and communications technology professionals with knowledge, skills and talents to meet the evolving and diverse needs of this exciting field. Members include companies, academic institutions, professional associations, industry organizations, and other stakeholders with an interest in developing Canada’s ICT capabilities. For more information please visit www.ccict.ca
Posted by: western canada | Jun 17, 2021 12:07:32 AM
First, i would like to blame the stupid american financial system regulators for causing financial bubbles. The dotcom bust and this financial bust is because there's no regulation in the american stock markets. Yeah, i wouldnt recommend IT for anyone unless you actually enjoy looking at computer code. India and china are producing more engineers than canadian university graduates a year. (my last company showed us a presentation on india and china). I live in calgary and had a coworker from india working here in IT. He said our jobs could all be outsourced to people in india for half the money. Its a scary IT future and im glad canadian oil companies are not globally outsourcing yet.....
Posted by: Cam | Jun 17, 2021 12:11:03 AM
I have had nothing but grief since graduating with CS degree in 2002. I'm giving up(finally!) and going into trades or maybe even getting a government job if I can. My last job, I was laid off when my work was sent to India (still my company, but my work moved over there). Yeah, I'm not a fan of that company anymore... although I never really was. Low pay with high expectations and no job security. People moved around and out so quickly it was such a gong show.
When I see an article like this, it pisses me off. GOOD parents will tell their children to go into a field that they ENJOY. Life is not all about making money. And yeah, most IT work is sitting in front of a computer in a cubicle (or in Godawful meetings). Most people, I would imagine (and hope) would find that boring. Giving a few sexed-up examples won't get away from the nuts and bolts of what IT people do.
Posted by: Marc | Jun 17, 2021 3:23:35 AM
I had to drop my IT job in the mid nineties, the cost of living was rising so fast I couldn't pay for my student loans with my pityful salary and the cost of keeping up on my education was rediculous. I started driving truck and still earn roughly double what my friends do who stayed in IT. Driving truck is even more boring than IT, but at least I don't feel humiliated every payday.
Posted by: Personal Finance Manager | Jun 17, 2021 7:59:34 AM
I will recommend using Desktop Budget to manage personal finances and my investment portfolio. Its the best, free, offline personal finance software I have seen so far.
Posted by: Wayne | Jun 17, 2021 8:57:41 AM
well, well, well
scores please, Wayne: 1, the rest of the world: 1000
I must admit that I might be wrong here, looks like you are all disillusioned after experiencing the effects of outsourcing and the bottom-line-first approach by IT companies, I understand your frustration but that how the business works (cars manufacturing is another example). I am just frustrated and concerned about the lack of interest in Computer and Engineering education in Canada by young kids these days (mine included). University requirement for engineering and computer admission is 75-80% of high school's mark as opposed to Journalism 87% or higher. WHY? Is that because journalism is more "fun" or less boring to study? What about job prospect of a journalist?
I regret the statement about 6-9 months IT training as it obviously offended some people. However, you get what you pay for or you pay for what you get is always true.
To answer Robert about my ENGRISH skill, I was writting the e-mail during work :-)), in a hurry so no checking was done then (as a friendly retort, there were errors in you e-mail as well but let's not get into it -:)
Edward the lawyer, ah, good for you, impressive career change!! do you want to hear some lawyer jokes ... guess you have heard enough :-))
Wayne
Posted by: Improve | Jun 17, 2021 1:11:29 PM
It's not IT alone that will be affected. I can guarantee you that if things keep going the way they're going, you'll soon be calling india or china for doctors advise. You can run all you want to wherever you want to but it will soon be the career you're running to.
I advise you to be wherever your vision is and create an edge for yourself. I for example am into web design. It's a thing that a kid in kindargaten could do BUT I've found my edge. I see myself making millions in this same profession. It's not a wishful thinking or a day dreaming. It's REAL. Find your edge or find your way out.
Posted by: Steve S | Jun 17, 2021 2:35:54 PM
I had friends who graduated at the same time I did but with IT degrees. Some even make fantastic wages. Travelling around the world working two months here, three months there, five months off (because of lack of work not vacation time). Become highly specialized, give up your personal life and operate as a private business and you too can make good money in IT (even as much as the owner of a Kwikie Mart). If you want a life & a family you 'may' want to look elsewhere.
Posted by: Seema | Jun 21, 2021 11:08:04 AM
There is no disillusion here. You pay twice the tuition compared to a regular arts and science program, u graduate with a higher debt, u have a crushing work experience, downward pressure on the salary with no job security with all the outsourcing, no off time as u have to constantly spend 10-15 hrs a week upgrading new tech skills because u are the only remaining IT survivor in our dept/company that mgmt will come to, not much hope for a rapid career acceleration as u see with other areas. Today the cost of an Indian developer is abt 1/10-1/20th of an NA counterpart. Tomorrow all the peripheral HR and clerical roles may see that. Its not IT my friend, its the selling of the NA middle class by the bonus hungry elitist few. Reduce the taxes and we wont complain.