Four In 10 Lost Jobs In 2001 Were Tech-Related

[bonkers325]

Link

well we can now all say the economy is going down :|

 

[Double Trouble]

Ya gotta remember though that the high tech job sector also saw an incredible (and unprecendented) boom for a few years -- it HAD to come to a saturation end-point. I can remember all the incredible perks and bonuses etc high-tech companies were offering just 2 years ago, now they're laying people off left and right.

I hope the economy picks up and turns back around.

 

[JohnnyKnoxville]

Oh goody now we can finally get people with college degrees to work at Frys

 

[whizbang]

Don't forget to factor in that Clinton conspired with big corporations to undercut skilled techies in the U.S. by accepting bribes for opening up over 500,000 work visas specifically for the high tech industry as the companies cried (nefariously) that the talent didn't exist. As the market consolidates, whom do you think is getting laid off? Qualified U.S. citizens or the indentured servants from overseas who are willing to work for 1/3 the salary because it equates to a fortune in their home country dollars?

I hate to say it, but it's time for techies to unionize!

 

[AmazonRasta]

Whizbang. You're so right. Why pay North Americans to perform tech jobs when people in other countries will do the work for like half the price?

Kind of the same like Nike. All those made in Malaysia and Singapore items.

 

[Double Trouble]

whizbang, I don't know which job market you've been following, but in the last few years there simply wasn't enough domestic talent available to fill the jobs. I saw literally thousands of tech job opening listings go unfilled where I work.

The process of getting work visas for overseas workers is a huge pain in the butt (I know from personal experience), and no company would rather go through that hassle than hire US talent if it's available.

Now that the hypergrowth of the tech sector is over, there will have to be some consolidation, that's inevitable.

I know you're wrong though in thinking that the "Qualified US" folks are let go first. Simply not true. Usually it's the contractors that are let go first, and a big percentage of the foreign work visa holders are contractors (they generally work through tech head hunting companies).

<<I hate to say it, but it's time for techies to unionize! >>

Heaven help us if that happens. One of the reasons the tech industry has flourished the way it has is because of it's flexibility and quick adaptability -- no union hassles. The vast majority of tech workers are not unionized because they're able to actually earn the money they make - they don't need a union to try and get more money than they're worth.

I can see it now: &quot;No sir, sorry, it's after 4:01 PM, I can't replace your video card until tomorrow - union rules. Also, you'll have to open the case yourself - union rules. And, I'd like to update the drivers for ya, but that's the 'driver installation department', so they'll have to do that - union rules.&quot; .... ack, what a nightmare.

 

[StageLeft]

Gotta go with tagej on this one. There simply were not enough US workers in the past to fill the tech industry. And I know for sure that a company would rather hire a US citizen. They also treat them better.

My brother went down to Arizona from Canada and compared to his US counterparts who were doing way less work than him (and everyone knew it) they were making a lot more. The employer had s*it-all respect for him, and finally he had to leave. He has had to do this twice now; foreign workers just don't get the respect or the money that they are worth!

 

[nateholtrop]

just my 2 cents...and experience


UNION==BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

nate

 

[Windogg]

I do just fine without paying dues to La Cosa Nostra err... ahhh... I mean Local Union Chapter.

Uhhh ohh....

/me put on knee pads.

 

[Thump553]

NPR radio had a feature on the foreign tech workers last week. Apparently their visas (or whatever they are called) are employer-specific, you must be working for that employer or bye-bye. Quite a lot of these people have also been laid off or their employer folded, leaving them up a creek.

There are some emergency provisions permitting them to stay and switch employers, in certain circumstances (like employer folding) but it takes at least six weeks to process the paperwork. In the meantime, if they work anywhere, they are violating US immigration laws and severely jeaprodizing their chance of a (permanent) green card.

Glad I'm not in that situation.

 

[chinman75]

ECONOMIC DOWNTURN..IS IT AFFECTING YOUR JOB STATUS?

 

[Kosugi]

H1-B visa is their classification.


Companies wishing to recruit from overseas have several hurdles to go through. For each Visa APPLIED for, the company filing the application has to put up 2,500$ - 3,000$. This before you are even sure you have a candidate.

Once in the US, same labor laws apply (almost). Salary shouldn't be much different than that of natives. Sometimes, though not usually, a company will dock pay to recover the cost of flying and initial housing. Most companies just eat the cost, and hope the recruit stays.

Also, the ability to screen technical skills is somewhat limited. You pretty much have to go on academic records (which could be fraudulent), and phone interviews.

Overall, only about 70% of the applications find recruits. That means 3 out of 10 times, companies pay the 2.5K - 3K and get nothing for it.

It's kind of like gambling

The alternative, which is very unpopular to native IT workers, is to outsource to other countries. I have yet to see this work the way it was planned, but that still doesn't stop the bean counters from insisting on it to save money.

 

[cyclistca]

Paranoid are we whizbang? As a few have already said companies have to jump through all kinds of hoops to bring foreign workers into the US. And those that have come to the US are pretty much screwed if they get laid off. A team mate of mine was laid off last week. She is having a lot of problems finding a new job. Several companies have been interested in her but once they found out that they would have to sponsor her they have moved on.

 

[bonkers325]

with stocks going down and more people coming out of college
things will get tough

 

[whizbang]

You've all sort of missed the point. I won't deny that that the past couple of years saw growth in IT that left many open positions, but 500,000? Real issue is that HR people were incapable of finding the qualified candidates or that companies refused to pay market value for local talent. I also agree that some H1-B Visa people get screwed. To some extent, they are gambling, too. That they will like their job and have some stability. Due to their limited enterprisability and commitment, it is difficult for them to negotiate over their salary.

However, if you don't believe that large corporations were using this opportunity to drive down salarys, then you must believe Miss America is going to end world hunger.