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IT jobs get hot as baby boomers retire

While talent pool shrinks, job-seeking IT professionals have the upper hand
By Denise Dubie , Network World , 07/10/2007
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IT professionals could use the inevitable retirement of millions of baby boomers to get higher salaries, better benefits and long-term job security, according to Forrester Research, but at the same time, IT managers will face a skills shortage that could hinder IT's ability to support a business.

With an estimated 25 million Americans set to retire by 2020 across all industries, Forrester Research says IT job seekers will have the upper hand when dealing with hiring managers eager to replenish lost expertise. According to Robert Half Technology's survey of about 1,400 CIOs some 16% planned to hire IT professionals during the first quarter of this year -- a number that represents the largest hiring increase since the fourth quarter of 2001.

"The IT job market is hot once again. High demand for constrained pool has shifted the leverage to candidates," the Forrester report reads. The research firm this week released a paper detailing best practices in recruiting IT talent and recently examined in another June report how the loss of baby boomers would affect U.S. IT departments.

"It professionals have more options and are pickier in their employment choices. Because there is great demand, IT workers, especially those with highly sought after skills, require extra wooing from IT leaders," Forrester says.

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Comments (7)
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RE: IT jobs get hot as baby boomers retireBy Connie Twynham on July 12, 2007, 9:57 amIt also sounds like IT managers need to begin to harvest the Intellectual Property that is on hard drives and in heads before it retires out the door. Too often...

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Re: IT jobs get hot as baby boomers retire.By Willem on July 12, 2007, 6:28 pmWhy are are they alarmed? Just outsource all to the BRIC countries, thats what they wanted in the first place? Not so long ago there was even an article here on...

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Boomer out of workBy Anonymous on July 12, 2007, 9:05 pmI think the supply of able boomers is far from exhausted, but many are under the radar. I, for one, don't "fit the profile" - I don't have a degree, I never bothered...

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Reply to AnonymousBy CheeseChaser on July 13, 2007, 1:18 pmWow, it is really surprising that "Anonymous" is a Boomer out of work. His or her post has more "woe is me" built into it than a UAW Grievance Form. From six short...

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Being an excellent techie is no longer in fashionBy Anonymous on July 13, 2007, 8:47 pmYour comments hit a nerve with me. I'm in IT at a big multinationasl financial firm. I have been told I am too technical. That I know too many systems in depth...

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Re: Boomer out of workBy Anonymous on July 14, 2007, 9:33 amHey Boomer, If you are really as competent as you seem to think then maybe you should "bother" to get certified. I guarantee it will improve your ability to find...

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