Study Finds a Growing Gap Between IT Positions and Qualified Candidates

There is a striking mismatch between supply and demand for highly skilled, management-level IT professionals over the next several years, according to an new IT professionals study.

Englewood, Colorado (PRWEB) May 5, 2006 -- Demand for management-level Information Technology professionals is growing rapidly, while the rate of computer science graduates is not even close to keeping pace. This is one of the key findings of “The Occupational Outlook for Information-Technology Professionals,” a study commissioned by American Sentinel University, an accredited distance learning university.

Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be an average of nearly 200,000 annual job openings in IT occupations that demand a BS or higher in computer science (or related disciplines such as management information systems), projections based on recent enrollment trends suggest that computer science degrees actually awarded in the United States will only be about one-quarter of the number of annual job openings.

“Because of the flexibility required in today’s systems, IT professionals are being asked more and more frequently to possess management knowledge and experience,” says Jeremy Leonard, who authored the study. “For several occupations, especially software engineers, systems analysts, and database administrators, employers are increasingly seeking individuals with MBAs or relevant business experience in addition to superior technical abilities.”

The study finds that most positions lost to the dot-com bust and outsourcing have been concentrated in the lower end of the skills spectrum. Meanwhile, higher-skill jobs have grown by 18 percent (225,000 jobs) since 2002. “Along with superior technical skills, students must be sure that they acquire the business and management knowledge increasingly sought by employers,” notes Leonard.

A full copy of the report, complete with underlying data and tables, can be found at http://www.americansentinel.edu/docs/IT_Outlook.pdf

American Sentinel University (www.AmericanSentinel.edu) is accredited by the U.S. Secretary of Education-recognized Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council. DETC, the premier global accrediting association for distance learning institutions, is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

American Sentinel University, founded as a Vanderbilt University Technology Company, delivers to its students and their employers the competitive advantages of unique online education programs focused on the needs of high-growth sectors. Accredited IT degree programs include both undergraduate and graduate programs in computer science and information systems.

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