June 23rd, 2008
20% drop in Computer Science majors in 2008
The Computing Research Association found a 20% drop in 2008 in students completing bachelors degrees in professional IT fields. Enrollment in undergraduate degree programs in computer sciences is more than 50% lower than it was 5 years ago, the group said. Between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 the number of new students declaring computer sciences as a major fell 43% to 8,021. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 854,000 professional IT jobs will be added between 2006 and 2016, an increase of about 24%. When replacement jobs are added in, total IT job openings in the 10-year period is estimated at 1.6 mln. The bureau estimates that one in 19 new jobs created in the 10-year period will be professional IT positions.
