The information technology industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States, almost twice the average growth of all other occupations. In fact, by 2028, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has predicted that there will be nearly 550,000 new jobs available for trained professionals.
"The field of computer science is growing at an incredible rate," says Ian Gorton, director of computer science programs at Northeastern University in Seattle.
One reason for the industry's rapid growth, according to Gorton, is the ever-changing technology landscape and its demand for skilled workers with new and changing skills.
But this growth is not just good news: While IT jobs are plentiful, there is a shortage of qualified people to fill that need. In fact, recent reports estimate that around one million computer programming jobs will not be filled in 2020.
According to Amit Shesh, associate professor and director of Northeastern's Master of Computer Science, this is largely due to the fact that many of today's computing jobs require specific skills that can vary by company. or industry are you there. Unfortunately, Shesh explains that it is not always possible to acquire the necessary computer skills with just a related bachelor's degree.
"BA is more about breadth than depth - it makes you more of a Swiss Army knife in computing," says Shesh. “Information technology is one of those fields where a degree is enough to land some jobs, but certainly not all, especially the highest positions. There are companies that try to fill positions with people who have a master's degree: this is the motivation of many people to take one. "
Computer science is also attracting a larger group of professionals, those who may not have studied the subject as college students, says Ben Hescott, a professor at Northeastern's Khoury College of Computer Science. Many of these people have specialized knowledge in industry and business, but lack technical skills. Earning an advanced degree opens this group of people to new and advanced career options.
For this subset of students, which includes those seeking a career change or investing in computer skills to support their current career, Hescott recommends looking for a program that suits them. Northeastern, for example, offers the Align Master of Science program in Computer Science, which gives non-computer students a direct path to a master's degree.
There are more than 152,000 IT job openings for college graduates and 24% of employers prefer or solicit candidates with this level of education. For this reason, pursuing a college education can strategically give you the competitive advantage you need to land one of the fastest growing jobs in the industry.
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