Are IT Jobs Recession-Proof?
Despite the hoopla around the latest IT employment stats, plenty of jobs are in high demand. |
Since we published a story on the latest IT employment figures, readers have been weighing in with relative disbelief.
Many of their arguments—that increases in outsourcing inflate the numbers, for example—make sense, but others sound like standard gripes from out-of-work IT pros.
So if you don't believe the government data, OK. For the jobless, you might want to check out this hiring forecast for the rest of 2008.
But what about this? A new study by job site JobFox.com, which found that several IT gigs rank among the most "recession-proof" for 2008. (But wait, are we really in a recession?)
In their top 20:
No. 2—Software designers/developers
No. 6—Network/systems administrators
No. 8—Software implementation analysis
No. 12—Testing/quality assurance
No. 14—Database administrators
No. 16—IT executives
A reasonable list, given the business needs in some of these areas, and the lack of qualified pros in others. (We have another "hot jobs" list here.)
What do you think? Are those jobs truly recession-proof? Or are other skills in higher demand?
Comments (1)
In my considered opinion--after over 20 years in an IT career--working for several large companies in the manufacturing, telecommunications, and retail industries--there is NO SUCH THING as a "recession-proof" IT job!!! This is ESPECIALLY true IF you are a SENIOR and EXPERIENCED IT professional OVER 40 years old!! The ultra-radical "cost-cutting" mania of the 2001-2004 era appears to be "alive and well," to the extreme detriment of the dedicated, significantly experienced, senior, career-oriented IT professional. There currently appears to be extremely minimal consideration given by MOST corporate management to a high level of professional experience and expertise demonstrated by a significant career in IT.
I also believe that significant age-discrimination {in many cases very cleverly disguised to avoid any reasonable legal action} is extremely rampant in the hiring practices of most large corporations when considering potental IT employees.
Therefore, in my opinion, there is NO SUCH thing as a "recession-proof" IT job! ANY (senior) IT professional who expects to be valued for their specialized experience and expertise {developed over a significant time-period, through education and long-term dedication in the "school of hard knocks"} is certain to be disillusioned by the EXTREMELY negative environment toward SENIOR IT professionals that appears to exist in most large corporations at the present time.
Posted by Brian Spomer | July 17, 2008 9:16 PM