Where Are the Software Engineers?

The technology industry is on a slow but steady rebound. The demand for qualified IT professionals has gone up over the last several, but many students have given up computer related majors in response to the Dot Com bust. Many industry professionals fear that there will be a crippling shortage of qualified personnel to fill tech jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov), computer software engineers will be one of the fastest growing occupations over the next 7 years.
To help meet this demand, students seeking a career in computers will need at least a bachelor's degree in computer software engineering.
Computers and info rmation technology is a part of our daily lives, and new technology is being developed at a fast pace. Computer training is needed to help expand new computer software systems and to include new technologies and applications. The skills needed for careers in IT change all of the time reflecting changes in technology and the growing needs of companies. Computer software engineers research, design, develop, and test operating systems-level software, compilers and network distribution software. They work with medical, industrial, military, communications, aerospace, business, and scientific and general computing applications. Software engineers set operational specifications and formulate and analyze software requirements
Computer software engineers need the skills to create functional and technical design qualifications for software development. They must also have solid programming skills, and be familiar with data types, syntax and control structures. Along with the ability to correctly analyze info rmation, software engineers also need to be able to fix multifaceted application glitches and be able to produce quality requirement specifications, design documents and test plans. Problem solving and working as a team are also necessary parts of working as a software engineer. Now is the time to earn a degree in a computer-related discipline, as it is required for most software engineering positions. Growth in the technology field will be driven by the rapid growth in the technology sector. Demand for careers as a computer software engineer is expected to grow as computer applications continue to expand.
At this time, many companies are experiencing difficulty finding qualified programmers and software engineers. The USA grants only about 6% of the world's engineering degrees, behind China, the European Union, Japan, Russia and India, according to the latest figures from the National Science Foundation ( http://www.nsf.gov/ ). This trend showing a decline in interest in computer science majors comes at a time when companies and groups representing U.S. technology professionals continue to debate whether there is an IT skills shortage requiring foreign workers to fill industry needs.
Graduate degree programs have not yet experienced the decline of computer science majors. Many U.S. graduate programs are dependant on foreign students who come here for Computer Training. Approximately 45% of computer engineering students are non-resident aliens. Enhanced security regulations in regards to student visa's may account for the lack of students applying for computer programs.
When the industry does rebound, there will most likely be a crippling shortage of qualified personnel to fill tech jobs. Student s with a love of technology should still continue to pursue a degree in computer science, as the need for these persons will continue to rise. The current shortage of qualified computer science engineers for hire in the United States is a problem that is reflective of a decline in Computer majors. Though the glamour of stock options and tech firm perks may be over, the need for qualified personnel is still present. Students with a love of technology should still continue to pursue a degree in computer science, as the need for these persons will continue to rise.