Internet technology or IT careers are the focus in 2011 and will remain throughout 2012. Hiring trends across most technology fields are significantly flat compared to those in the IT fields as the majority of US based corporations and government agencies firm up their internal technology infrastructure.
This move to internet technology careers are in stark contrast to the 2001 technology dotcom bubble where tech careers were viewed as toxic after the internet bubble burst. In 2001, most software professionals, computer science and software engineers experienced mass layoffs. Now, ten years later we are experiencing a massive reversal in the IT career sector as nearly all tech jobs are calling for all levels of IT network professionals, network security, data security, and data storage specialists. Other technology, scientific, and engineering careers sense 2009 have seen a substantial decline in job openings across all defense and commercial sectors. Technology hardware and physical product design and development careers have stalled in the wake of corporate and defense cutbacks flooding the job market with an overabundance of highly skilled technology labor. Many MS and PhD advanced degreed applied science and engineering professionals have found themselves pushed out of the job market for the first time in their professional careers. As one unemployed senior electrical engineering put it, “I’ve been in the workforce for over 20 years, with a BS in EE and an MBA. I am told that I’m over qualified and no one will even hire me for junior level positions because they called me a Flight Risk”. [Speaking to the company’s position where this employee would potentially leave after their job market improves].
While the technology trend throughout 2011 and 2012 appear to center on IT related careers, one note of caution should be considered. Similar to the cellular industry throughout the late 1990’s, the longevity of IT careers, specifically to network infrastructure and broadband access will experience a rapid decline in career options once the IT networks foundation is established. Careers in network or internet technology support will still remain, but the bulk of the high paying jobs will most often focus on network security and data manipulation.