TA Examining American IT Workforce Programs

The development and application of new information technologies across virtually every segment of the American economy has resulted in rapid, sustained growth in demand for highly skilled information technology (IT) workers. The Department of Labor estimates between 1983 and 1998 the number of high-skilled IT workers increased from 719,000 to 2,084,000 – an increase of 190 percent, more than six times the overall U.S. job growth rate during this period. 



Rapid growth is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. The Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most recent ten-year employment projections indicate that the number of core IT workers – computer scientists, computer programmers, computer engineers, systems analysts, computer support specialists, and database administrators – will rise from 2.2 million in 1998 to 3.9 million in 2008. Another 300,000 will be needed to replace those leaving the field during this period. 



As part of a Congressionally mandated study on America’s competitiveness, the Technology Administration (TA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce invites public comment before November 9, 2001, on existing public and private high-tech workforce training programs in the United States. This study and report will focus on the education and training paths and programs through which Americans prepare for IT jobs and maintain the skills needed in an ever-changing information technology environment. 



A series of questions has been developed for the project to help elicit public response. The questionnaire is available as an Internet-based form that can be completed and submitted online: http://www.ta.doc.gov/ittraining/

All comments received will be posted on the TA website and may be used in a report to Congress.