WSJ Article on Silicon Valley Unemployment

[quantize]

<p>Silicon</a> Valley's Jobless Unplug From Tech - WSJ.com</p>

<p>I find it very interesting because at the moment I am trying to decide whether to go into EE/CS (high-tech silicon valley type of thing) or something like Chemical/Materials (for clean energy).</p>

<p>Do you think this article sheds any insight on the future of silicon valley(outsourcing etc..)? Or is it just a temporary set-back because of the recession?</p>

[Calcozzo]

<p>I’m willing to bet it has far more to do with the current economic climate than with increased outsourcing. Software Engineers are actually going to see a huge increase in job prospects over the next few years, to the point where outsourcing will only make a dent in job opportunities at best.</p>

[rheidzan]

<p>

I’m willing to bet it has far more to do with the current economic climate than with increased outsourcing. Software Engineers are actually going to see a huge increase in job prospects over the next few years, to the point where outsourcing will only make a dent in job opportunities at best.

How much are you willing to bet, and what facts are you basing your statement on?</p>

[Calcozzo]

<p>

How much are you willing to bet, and what facts are you basing your statement on?

</p>

<p>My first-born. <em>rolls eyes</em></p>

<p>And I’m mainly basing it on what the BLS says. 324,000 new SE jobs through 2016.
[Computer</a> Software Engineers](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos267.htm#outlook]Computer”>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos267.htm#outlook)</p>

<p>

As a result of rapid employment growth over the 2006 to 2016 decade, job prospects for computer software engineers should be excellent. Employment of computer software engineers is projected to increase by 38 percent over the 2006 to 2016 period, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. As with other information technology jobs, outsourcing of software development to other countries may temper somewhat employment growth of computer software engineers.

</p>

<p>Coupled with the fact that a lot of <em>everyone</em> are getting laid off these days, I decided to make my first post in this topic.</p>

[BCEagle91]

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@""

<p>My first-born. <em>rolls eyes</em></p>

<br>

<p>Me too.</p>

[nj_azn_premed]

<p>EE/CS doesn’t mean you have to work in Silicon Valley. By the same token, Chemical/Materials doesn’t mean you have to go into clean energy. All four degrees you mentioned have and will continue to have a broad range of applications in diverse fields. FWIW, a recent ranking of jobs put software engineers on top mainly because of the incredible range of options available to people in that line of work, essentially for the job security afforded by the occupation.</p>

[mrego]

<p>The “techies” the article mentions are actually managers.
Boo hoo for them. A measly 11% unemployment rate? Try being where it is 16%.</p>

[AuburnMathTutor]

<p>I think the current economy is to blame for any temporary unemployment in Silicon Valley.</p>

<p>I think CS/SE/CE is probably better off than a lot of other science and engineering areas.</p>