As of 1995, however, only 24,000 computer science graduates entered the market, and a significant number of them were immigrants who later returned home, Miller said. The data that have been used to document the so-called shortage are extremely weak data, almost useless data,'' said New York demographer Michael Teitelbaum, former vice chairman of the US Commission on Immigration Reform. In fact, the General Accounting Office in March said a government study had failed to substantiate a shortage of computer workers. We have tripled in eight years. There has been tremendous growth, but there just aren't enough skilled people out there to fill these jobs.
Jobs are much more focused now.
Companies are paying people for yesterday's experience, not last year's experience. The software council, along with the industry, the state, and the federal goverment, is trying to address the problem by retraining older workers who have been laid off. Frustrated by their inability to land lasting work, some older workers have joined with the ITAA's opponents in slamming the idea of a shortage. They maintain the industry's desire for young workers and its go-go culture have forced senior computer professionals out of the field. A 1993 survey of college alumni showed that 20 years after graduating, only one-fifth of those who began their careers as computer professionals were still in the industry.