IT Workers of the World, Rejoice (and ask for a raise)

If you're in IT worker, forget all those worries about competition from overseas workers. And, if the recent news is correct, forget all those dark rumors of a flat compensation environment (which is a fancy way of saying "no raise.") Because you're in demand, you're wanted -- heck, you're needed like never before.

A news report says, in short, that not many young people are going into IT anymore. College programs are drying up -- meaning shortages of workers loom. From the article:

"There's a bit of a perfect storm going on," said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology, a California-based consulting and staffing service. "I do think it's serious and I do think we need to start at the elementary school level and get students talking about math and science."

Math and science? Dude, that's way too complicated. I just want to play with my iPhone.

The change in the trend line is substantial. From the article: "The Computing Research Association's annual survey of universities with Ph.D.-granting programs found a 20 percent drop this year in students completing bachelors degrees in professional IT fields, continuing a trend seen for several years."

I don't know what could have scared young people away. It couldn't have been that ceaseless drumbeat of headlines about overseas outsourcing, was it? Or the tough reality that staying employed in IT requires you to constantly learn and relearn sophisticated new technologies?

Of course, if there's a shortage of IT professionals, there's always a solution. Just try increasing wages...