We hear a lot these days about how the economy's in the tank. Anybody with a job need only look around at the empty cubicles in the office to see how true that is. But not all employment sectors are struggling. Dice.com, a job search website for technology professionals, says its job postings in Charlotte are up 130 percent this year.
Go to the site and you'll see over a thousand help-wanted ads for tech jobs in the Queen City, from analysts to programmers to developers . While overall unemployment nationally stands at 9.5 percent, it's just 4.5 percent in the tech sector, says Dice.com Senior Vice President Tom Silver. While the broader picture's still not great," he said. "the demand for individuals with specific technical skills at companies like Google, companies like Oracle, companies like Microsoft, they're all hiring."
Tech companies that put projects on hold during the downturn are starting to crank them up again, he explained. He surmised that Charlotte might be seeing such a big increase because it's a relatively small tech jobs market and a hiring spree by one or two companies could cause a significant percentage bump.
My thought: if you've got a kid in high school or college, do whatever you have to to get them to take computer science courses. Silver, dad to a 19-year-old college kid, says he sure is.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Need work? Tech jobs booming in Charlotte
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25 comments:
OK, I don't want to throw too much water on your fire but there is something you should understand about jobsites like dice.com (I think they are one of the best, btw).
Thos 1,000 jobs you mention are not 1,000 separate jobs. Look closely and you will find that they are multiple postings from many different placement (contract) services.
So while the tech market is better than most (I've worked steadily in it for 30 years) it is not wuite as rosey as this makes it out to be.
Jobs are posted with ridiculous requirements so that the employer can then exercise an H1B visa for a fraction of the salary.
Few if any of those 1,000 will be filled by Charlotte area unemployed residents.
jjwnew speaks the truth. Wurd!
H1B visas are killing American jobs...
I just left a senior level position for another senior level position in the IT field in Charlotte...so I know of at least 1 spot that is open...and you can have it!!!
I place people for a living.
Project managers, program managers, sfdc developers, communications people, etc., here in Charlotte and elsewhere. The comp levels are decent-$50-100/hour.
I am very, very busy (just taking a quick lunch.)
Not all is gloom and doom out there.
My husband, a Systems Technician with 20-plus years of experience, has yet to find a permanent job in Charlotte and is working a contract job. Does anyone have a permanent job for him with benefits? Where are these jobs? He certainly can't find one after being laid off last year.
Most of the jobs you will see on dice and similar sites are contract jobs. It's just how companies hire nowadays. I contracted for 3 years until brought on fulltime only last month. Contracting is not the end of the world as some folks see it.
To the placement guy (pimp :) ) who posted - Thanks! You folks kept me gainfully employed more than once. And I earned a bunch of cash for you along the way.
I would never encourage my children to go into the IT industry. I've been in it for over 20 years and have been outsourced twice and been through two layoffs. My current company is now "augmenting" our staff with offshore positions. Any time somebody leaves, another offshore person is added. It's only a matter of time before I'm outsourced again. IT jobs = phantom jobs these days - if you don't mind becoming a road warrior, IT is for you.
Offshoring is definitly an issue. A good portion of my time is in fixing work that the $8/hr folks halfway around the world screwed up. The folks up the food chain who think offshoring is a great cost savings just don't see that.
people placer, give us your info. I know several people looking to be placed.
I'm in IT and honestly you don't have to spend 4 yrs getting a computer science degree to land a good job in this field. Some of the best programmers I've worked with over the years were self taught. Most started tinkering with it back when they were in middle school. I would say it's more about experience when it comes to this field than about education.
Tech jobs in Charlotte are primarily Contract Gigs without benefits. Tech headhunters (tech pimps) are constantly approaching with limp offers. Call a pig's ear "great!" and it is still a pig's ear.
I miss being self employed and contracting my work out. With the work I did, I got to make my own hours. I preferred working extra long days so I could quit work at lunch on Thursday for the weekend. It also helped me stay focused and got jobs done way under what I quoted.
Offshoring is tailing off... in fact, a number of major firms have started bring those jobs back as they discover that the level of service and customer satisfaction are FAR lower than with US personnel.
Come on guys - don't so negative and cynical. It is a good writeup highlighting the fact that there is steady demand for technology related jobs. Of course, some IT jobs are being filled by cheaper labor overseas - but that is the same for many industries. It's definitely good advice to steer children into studies related to technology whether they go into that profession or not. For one day at least, just acknowledge a good post and agree with the facts. Smile!
I love contracting. You get to move around and work on all different sorts of projects, which really broadens your experience and builds your professional network. It would take a really attractive offer for me to roll over into a full time position.
For people in Charlotte who are "In Transition" checkout
ProNet Charlotte is a transition space for displaced Professionals looking to use innovative tools, resources and networking opportunities to advance their job search. (http://www.pronetcharlotte.com/)
The Charlotte In Transition Suppport Site also has links to the majority of in transition support groups in the area.
http://www.cits.groupsite.com
I always had a theory about IT guys...
Whenever a major system crashed, someone's contract was up
Contracting wouldn't be so bad if these agencies would offer some benefits and especially considering how much money they make off of contractors. You should see where these recruiters live. And if I get sick and can't work, I could lose everything while the recruiter sits back with a smile like a Cheshire cat. If this is the future of business, we're all in trouble.
Obviously, Mr. Frazier does not work in tech. I have for over 20 years. Laid off twice, but with my current employer over 15 years. IT has been good to me over that period, but I can see the handwriting on the wall for the profession. The days of making a middle to upper class income in IT is all but over except for a fortunate few--and I'd wager their days are numbered.
My current employer is looking at outsourcing their entire IT operation. You can bet that all us "old hands" will be moved out (we're "too expensive" and we "aren't willing to work as hard"), and our jobs filled with the latest grads with no experience--but who will work for half the salary and fewer benefits. (Or offshore workers at a quarter the salary and no benefits.) Service will decline and the business may suffer, but hey, we're saving money!
Oh yeah, I'd move heaven and earth to get my kids into IT. Not.
Work the contract job. Perform at a high level. You may see that transition into a permanent role. I've done it and seen it happen in many other instances.
people that lose their IT jobs are typically the ones that aren't really that good... I've known guys who graduated w/ 4 year degrees in IT who couldn't even understand simple database design. The degree alone doesn't mean you're good at what you do when you're in the IT field.
Plus, most IT guys in the corporate world have such limited knowledge of new technologies they don't really bring value anyway. They all still want to say "that's not my area" instead of taking control and solving all of the issues and thinking things through.
If you want to know what the tech sector is really about, learn all aspects of it from web to servers, to databases, to SDLC, etc... don't just sit around and say "i can write an FRD" and think that means you're worth something in the tech sector...
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