| The last few years have seen a dramatic | | | | Typically, any time unemployment in the US |
| reversal in the job prospects for computer | | | | falls below 3%, it's considered too low, |
| programmers in the US and worldwide, as | | | | because it indicates that the 3% is made up |
| global demand for those professionals has | | | | of people who are unemployed voluntarily, and |
| increased across the board. This article | | | | the actual number of un-voluntarily employed |
| explores some of the benefits to be had | | | | professionals is actually smaller than that. |
| through a career in computer programming. | | | | |
| Before anyone moves down the path towards any | | | | Experienced computer programmers have |
| one career field, it's a good idea to take a | | | | increased job security. Once you have real |
| look at that field, to gain a full | | | | skills and experience in the computer |
| appreciation for what they're getting into, | | | | programming field, job security increases |
| and what a career in that field might offer | | | | likewise. There are two ways this happens: |
| them. Below are some insights into why | | | | you either become indispensable to the |
| computer programming is a solid candidate for | | | | company where you work, or your skills and |
| a career choice. | | | | experience become valuable enough that it |
| | | | doesn't really matter what happens to any one |
| Even though the economy goes through several | | | | job. The fact is that, while the tools used |
| ups and downs, the demand for computer | | | | by computer programmers change, the |
| programmers continues to be strong. | | | | fundamentals of the job don't. You might |
| Outsourcing is always a concern in today's | | | | code an application differently in Java as |
| business world, especially in any back-office | | | | compared to C++, for example, but the |
| specialization. But that's more than offset | | | | application and its uses are the same, as are |
| by the growth in IT and computer programming | | | | the types of problems you encounter most |
| industry-wide. Outsourcing as a trend reached | | | | often. And once you have a base set of |
| it's peak during the recessionary years | | | | skills, and add the experience of problem |
| following 2001, and has leveled off in recent | | | | solving and design in real-world |
| years. The fact is, the days of major | | | | environments, you can grow into a position |
| outsourcing initiatives have already passed, | | | | that's valuable and portable. Tools will |
| and a number of those jobs have begun moving | | | | change, and education is an ongoing component |
| back onshore to the US. In fact, a recent | | | | of the job, but real experience combined with |
| study found that the technology sector gained | | | | solid skills can't be replaced. |
| 147,000 new positions in 2006, even with | | | | |
| outsourcing, a gain of 59,600 jobs over 2005. | | | | Other benefits of a computer programming |
| | | | career include: portability of skills, |
| Also, keep in mind that the average | | | | freedom to move into independent consulting |
| unemployment rate for computer programmers | | | | and the possibility of telecommuting. There |
| was 2.5% in 2006, almost half the national | | | | has never been a better time to start a |
| average, and a sign of significant shortage | | | | career as a computer programmer. |
| of qualified workers in the industry. | | | | |