IT Worker Supply Analyzed

The Computing Research Association (CRA) has released an in-depth look at the information technology (IT) worker situation in the United States, The Supply of Information Technology Workers in the United States.

Working with four other professional IT-related societies, CRA conducted a critical review of the information available on the supply of IT workers, the broader definition of an IT worker, traditional and nontraditional sources for IT workers, the long term and short term demand for IT employees, and suggested ways to positively affect the supply of IT workers.

One of the surprises in the report is the conclusion that while a preponderance of secondary or circumstantial evidence may suggest a national IT worker shortage exists, there was no conclusive evidence to quantitatively corroborate a worker shortage over a tight labor market. Job-specific shortages, geographically limited availability or temporary increases in demand (e.g., Y2K problems) may exist but the report concludes great fluctuation and fluidity occurs in local, industrial or regional supply and demand for specific IT skills.

Another conclusion was that if women, Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, and other under-represented groups "were represented in the IT workforce in proportion to their representation in the US population, this country would have more than an adequate supply of workers to fill even the most dire estimates of a shortage."

The report identifies 39 recommendations for government, higher education, industry, professional societies, and individuals to take to strengthen and improve the human resource element of the IT industry. Recommendations range from addressing data collection to increasing the number of students and workers with IT skills.

Copies of The Supply of Information Technology Workers in the United States can be downloaded from the Computing Research Association's website, http://www.cra.org