According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate of computer & IT occupations is likely to grow by 12% from 2018 to 2028. This will add up to 546,200 new job occupations in the IT sector. Despite the increase in IT jobs and a tech skills shortage in the market, Computer Science graduates have had poor employment prospects.
Several students having master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science are struggling to find a job in the IT industry. As per a study, the unemployment rate of recent CS graduates has spiked to 7.8%. It has put Computer Science graduates in a contradictory situation of why they are not getting employment opportunities even when a large number of companies claim to have a dire shortage of tech skills.
The biggest reason companies do not consider CS graduates to fill job openings is their lack of real-time practical experience. IT employers take 50% longer tohire a candidatethan other recruiters as they want highly-qualified developers with exceptional coding skills.
In this blog, we will determine all the factors that led to the rise in the unemployment rate for Computer Science graduates. Also, we will highlight some considerable ways to get sustainable tech jobs.
There is a reason why the largest IT companies in the world, like Google and Apple, look beyond degrees for hiring candidates. Today, most highest-paying tech jobs require more than just a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Instead, these jobs call for extensive industry knowledge of software development with hands-on experience. Let’s evaluate some factors that contribute to the inflating unemployment rate for Computer Science graduates and why companies do not hire them.
Reasons for High Unemployment Rate among Computer Science Graduates
Outdated Curriculum
Computer science curriculum usually focuses on low-level programming. It teaches theoretical & fundamental concepts year after year without much revision. Since the curriculum is outdated and covers the general basics of programming, it confines the knowledge of students. Consequently, a majority of new CS grads only have the fundamental knowledge of algorithms, computer language theory & software development
Lack of Right Tech Skills
The IT industry is gaga over trending technologies like Big Data, Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, Automation, and Java web development. That’s why most tech companies prefer hiring employees proficient in using the latest technologies rather than hiring Computer Science graduates who do not possess the essential skills required for software development and other IT projects.
Fast Evolution of Technology
Information technology is an ever-changing environment. It keeps on evolving with each passing hour. So, to sustain in such settings, one needs to adopt an agile learning approach, as the traditional learning methods do not prepare students to cope with the dynamic nature of the technical sphere. Also, Computer Science graduates lack the ability to accommodate technological changes due to their limited scope of study.
No Real-Time Experience
When it comes to the IT sector, practical experience is way more significant than theoretical knowledge. Employers today hire professionals with real-time experience in Java, DevOps, AWS, MERN Stack, Python, and other modern frameworks. To meet the latest hiring standards of tech companies, CS graduates need to acquire some field experience, as companies expect high-quality work and cannot risk their reputation by hiring a recent graduate.
Access to ready-made IT talent from Outsourcing
To bridge the IT skills gap, employers decide to outsource efficient resources. This outsourcing helps companies quickly get skilled developers who can take prompt actions without needing training.
Hiring Foreign Workers on H-1, L-1, E-2, or B1 Visas
To stay in the competitive market, IT companies in the U.S. employ the best talent globally, regardless of nationality. Top tech companies such as Deloitte, Microsoft, and Amazon hire foreign workers by getting more H-1B, L-1, E-2, and B1 visas.
Also read: New H1B Visa Rules and their Impact on Students
The U.S. Department of Labor says that between 2021 to 2031, there will be a 21 percent increase in computer and information research scientists’ job openings, but the universities in the U.S. shall not be able to produce enough graduates to fill these positions. Thus foreign workers are the only source to fill the tech talent shortage.
Top 5 Tips to Get Hired in Tech
Nowadays, businesses look for people who have got the right skills to deploy software and tech gadgets. Many students with a degree in computer science think that they can easily enter the IT industry. However, they soon get a reality check when the companies reject their job applications.
Also read: How to Get a Job in 2024?
In order to thrive in this tech world, you need to gain expertise in top programming languages, databases, web frameworks, platforms, libraries, statistical methods, and workflow tools. Here are some tips to get hired in tech that will help you commence a successful career in IT:
Non-Traditional Education Route can meet the current Tech Job Demands
About 40% of tech jobs do not require a four-year degree in Computer Science. Over the years, there has been an increase in fast-track IT training programs, popularly known as “coding bootcamp.” The bootcamps prepare people with a little technical knowledge for high-level tech jobs in just a few months. So, rather than investing plenty of time & money in learning abstract concepts of CS, one should prefer enrolling in an upskill IT program.
Gain Job-Ready Tech Skills
Lately, IT companies have adopted a new hiring approach that emphasizes skills. It enables job seekers to showcase their coding skills and get hired even if they don’t have traditional qualifications like Engineering or Computer Science degrees. So, to differentiate yourself from an average learner, keep up with the latest industry trends. Learn through online or campus-based courses to attain the right training.
Get Experience
To accelerate your chances of getting hired by a tech company, you should get some real-world experience. Look for summer job placements and internships, or volunteer your tech skills to build your friend’s or local business website. Once you gain adequate experience, approach startups or small IT firms and offer your services at reduced prices. During the inception of your IT career, you should only focus on building a solid work portfolio by procuring real-time experiences.
Develop Soft Skills
Don’t just learn coding skills but also work on your soft skills. Tech companies want leaders who can streamline their business operations with a result-driven mindset. To accomplish a high position in the technical sphere, you need to have fluent communication skills, a zeal to learn new methods, a good work ethic, and excellent command of coding.
Immerse Yourself in Programming
If you want to build an IT career, go above and beyond to ace the subject of coding. Exploit every possible opportunity to enrich your programming knowledge. Subscribe to coding-related podcasts or audiobooks, join programming groups on social media, bookmark some useful blogs ortechnical interview questions and answersweb pages on the bootcamp websites, etc.
Conclusion
The Tech-industry provides thousands of job opportunities for candidates with the right skills and knowledge. Rise above the average learners of computer science programs and gain practical skills to secure a job in IT.
SynergisticIT provides a robust technology upskill program for tech aspirants to acquire the necessary skills to cope with the ever-changing demands of the IT sector. Our program includesJava training,Big Data training,AWS Certification, andMERN Stack training.
Anytime you want to upgrade your skills and need a helping hand to enter or re-enter the tech workforce with high-demand tech skills, reach out to us. Since 2010 we have helped 1000’s of jobseekers achieve success in the technology sector, making our Candidate Success Outcomes the best in the industry. SynergisticIT’s career-oriented training programs guarantee fast-paced, quality tech education, preparing you with top-notch skills for coveted tech roles in the industry. Reach out to us. SynergisticIT– Home of the Best Data Scientists and Software Programmers in the Bay Area!
