What is the IT workforce reality?

A day doesn't go by without some survey, study or research report informing the public that the U.S. high-tech industry is desperately lacking skilled IT workers. 

Such commentary also coincides with news that Microsoft reportedly has more than 4,000 job openings and company Chairman Bill Gates is lobbying for Congress to raise the controversial H-1B visa cap to allow U.S. companies to hire more foreign nationals and fill those empty positions.

To fan the flames of the growing workforce panic, many IT industry watchers comment on the fact that baby boomers will be eligible to retire in the next few years. And as this seasoned workforce moves on to consulting, part-time positions or true retirement, the number of computer and technology graduates is dwindling -- leaving what many forecast to be a huge talent for the industry.

Yet nearly as frequently Network World receives insight from the IT community about just how many skilled workers are available now and actively looking for work at some of the country's leading technology firms.

"Executives are being told by their hiring managers that there are not skilled workers in the U.S. and they must seek H-1Bs to fill positions," says Terri Morgan, a principal at Wudang Research Association who says she has encountered issues when seeking IT employment from U.S. companies, such as IBM. "There are a whole host of us out here that have really good skills and know the culture, but maybe we don't have one item on the checklist HR is seeking. H-1B applicants know how to manipulate the system and companies know how to make it appear as though they exhausted their options here."

In some cases, the numbers can't lie. Fewer American students are enrolling in computer science and engineering degree programs -- yet the number of foreign nationals, or international students, is not decreasing. According to the National Science Foundation, in 2006 73% of new electrical engineering PhDs were granted to international students, and 64% of all engineering PhDs were as well. And Forrester Research says the oldest of the 78 million U.S. baby boomers are reaching retirement age, yet 48 million Gen Xers will not replace the boomers and the next generation, Gen Y, or Millennials, come to the table with such a different work ethic that all industries will be impacted.

But all of this begs the question: Is there now a significant lack of skilled IT workers in the U.S.? Or will there be in the foreseeable future? If not, as so many across the industry report, then why are market research firms creating a virtual panic? And why are companies saying they are unable to fill positions and leaving jobs open for months on end? What is keeping these IT professionals with skills from being employed by companies looking for similar -- if not the exact same skill sets? Is talk of a shortage hype? Or is the U.S. truly losing its innovative edge due to a lack of interest in IT?

I welcome any comments, direction or insight into these issues that IT management faces today. Please e-mail me with any ideas or thoughts on these topics or leave an anonymous comment in Network World's community section.

Stay tuned as I plan to further investigate this topic with more articles on the types of recruiting practices used in the IT industry, the tech skills most in demand going forward for IT and how many IT pros have had to take on dual roles to get ahead.

Denise Dubie is senior editor with Network World.