President Obama to Save IT Jobs in America
Ever since the late 1990's to early 2000's, the word 'outsourcing' has been a term the work force has not welcomed or relished. American companies seeking to save the financial bottom line move their operations to offshore locations, such as India, due to the inexpensive cost of doing business, the lack of regulations compared to the U.S., and no requirements of employee benefits. Many industries and professions, including IT professionals can only sit and watch as their jobs are leaving the country.
Many individuals who have witnessed and experienced their dwindling occupations moving across the globe seek assistance from President Obama. The President has given the affirmation to retain more jobs in the United States with the lure of tax incentives for industries and major corporations. To quote the President, "We're not looking to create just any kind of jobs here; we're looking to create good jobs that pay well and can't be shipped overseas."
A record number of individuals are ending up laid off from work, receiving unemployment assistance and enduring the best they can in the weak economy. Retaining American jobs in America is a tall task for the President Obama Administration. According to a report compiled by the Hackett Group, an advisory firm specializing in outsourcing, it is predicted American corporations and enterprises will transport a minimum of one hundred and forty thousand job and positions to offshore locations in the years 2009 and 2010. Over fifty percent of the transported positions will be in the IT field. The report continues to state that by the year 2010 approximately twenty five percent of all IT positions and jobs at some of the world's largest corporations by market value will move offshore.
These forecasted figures do not leave a rosy outlook for IT professionals who have enrolled in and completed substantial IT training to earn certifications to make themselves more marketable in a very competitive industry and work force. As President Obama primarily proposed a three thousand tax credit for this year and next for every newly created position, some have mentioned it isn't enough to stem the tide of job profession transportation. Mary Jo Morris, the President of World Sourcing Services for Computer Sciences Corp. has stated, "An average salary for a software developer in the U.S. is $75,000 and it is $8,000 in India." This single statement brings the question, why would a company based in America desire to pay employees of the United States ten times more than an individual in India who is willing to do the exact same job, but much cheaper?
With the stimulus package, initiatives intended to create jobs through spending may deter the offshore movement. Professionals with IT certifications and IT related jobs may find relief, as twenty billion dollars of the stimulus package is targeted for the health information technology and the creation of an infrastructure to spur the electronic conversion of health records. Hopefully, this will either create or help to retain over eighty seven thousand jobs for at least one year in high salaried industries including hardware manufacturing, software and IT services. The advancement of technological innovation will require certified professionals to assist in the future of IT remaining in this country. Individuals seeking employment in IT should participate in IT training which in turn will increase their chances of a successful career in the IT sector.
Another six billion of increased stimulus spending is targeted to go towards improving broadband Internet access and service in the United States. This would retain or generate close to thirty thousand telecom positions for one year and over eight thousand capital equipment jobs. Another eleven billion is slated for modernizing the electrical power grid in the United States in order to produce over sixty four thousand IT positions for a year. The president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Robert Atkinson, stated, "IT did pretty well. There's a real focus on digital infrastructures, there's real money there. It basically affirmed the commitment that the country's building out IT networks is important to our future."
If the increased spending does not induce companies to keep American jobs in America, they may have the incentive to send work to domestic companies instead of shipping the work outside of American borders. Due to the fact it takes time to establish offshore business models, the stimulus funds and plans are designed to occur without delay. Professionals and other individuals who desire to take advantage of the stimulus strategy should enroll in the appropriate e-learning courses and advance their talents, studying and improving their knowledge at their convenience while working full-time jobs. IT training courses will help them acquire the information and education required for eventual certification and employment in the emergent IT regions that will benefit from the stimulus money.
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