This is an interesting article…
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/01/darpa-us-geek-shortage-is-a-national-security-risk/
Sure, we’re all plugged in and online 24/7. But fewer American kids are growing up to be bona fide computer geeks. And that poses a serious security risk for the country, according to the Defense Department.
I think a another big part of this problem is around the outsourcing of the computer geek type jobs, specifically IT, database, and developer jobs. I am where I am because I worked my way up the ranks. I didn’t start out knowing what I know now, I slowly learned and moved forward and learned more and got better. Challenges in lower level jobs taught me how to solve harder and more complex issues. It taught me to think through the problem, it taught me to think long term. It allowed me to move up and take on more complicated, higher level jobs. If I hadn’t been in those jobs and worked my way up, I very likely would never have written the tools I have written, never have authored the content that I have written. Before I found computers I was gung ho about being a Dr. I would practice writing a sloppy signature and everything. Even today my handwriting would make any physician or surgeon jealous.
Anyway, these starter and medium level jobs are all being pushed to offshore (or best shore) locations and so there are fewer and fewer jobs available for people to start in and move up the chain. People aren’t going to move straight into high level developer and architect positions, or if they do… watch out. We outsource our low level stuff now and continue doing so, we will be outsourcing our high level jobs later and then what will the security risk be?
joe
