Critical Shortages Remain in Certain IT Specialties
Posted Nov 23, 2001

While the economy is sluggish and the unemployment rate has increased, a study by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has found that the number of open Information Technology (IT) service and support positions has more than tripled since 1999. The study, entitled "Ongoing Crisis in IT Management," found that in an average IT department of 25.6 people, there are 2.1 unfilled positions. "While layoffs dominate the headlines, IT managers are still struggling to find the right people to keep the technology infrastructure moving forward and are identifying vendor-neutral certification as the means of filling those support positions," according to John Engman, director of JOBS+, the workforce development program at CompTIA.

Many high-tech workers have been laid off or are facing layoffs. This situation can be especially devastating to foreign nationals, as it affects their ability to remain in the U.S. legally. These workers need to focus their job searches to those areas in IT where their skills remain in demand. If they currently are employed with the possibility of a layoff, they need to obtain the certifications that will make them more desirable to prospective employers.

In this time of layoffs and cutbacks, the research indicated that employers are using less expensive recruitment methods for IT positions. While some utilize national advertising, many are turning to local advertising and job banks. When searching for a job, it may be wise, given these trends, to search the local sources in addition to the Internet.

At The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, it is our hope that the many computer professionals having difficulty with their employment situations at this time are able to weather the current economy. As readers of the MurthyBulletin and MurthyDotCom may be aware, there have been some favorable changes in the law, mainly the enactment of the American Competitiveness in the 21^st Century Act (AC21 law). This AC21 law may assist some of you in maintaining your status and the viability of your employment-based permanent resident cases even if you are laid off after filing your Adjustment of Status (I-485) application. If you find yourself in this situation, we suggest that you consult with an attorney to ensure that you comply with the requirements of the AC21 law to improve the likelihood of an approval for your adjustment application and obtaining your "green card."