The problem of job migration overseas was addressed by a Intel's legendary
Andy Grove, today. The speech was covered by several news agencies,
such as The Register.
In the speech, Grove warns that the IT industry in the US could go the way of the steel industry. (And in fact is already well down that path.) "It would be a miracle if it didn't happen in the software and services industry,'' Grove said.
The points that Grove points to fight this trend include: boost funding for research and development at universities; adopt policies that attract the best workers from around the world. This is the part of the message most relevant for GT students. You are in the very good place to gain an education in the high value work that will continue to be done in the US.
On a personal note, I was recently on a two week trip to Armenia, on the other side of the Baltic sea, sharing borders with Iran and Turkey. There, the better jobs are software programming jobs. Even the Mathematics Institute in Yerevan rents out space to such a company, a move that is described as completely normal.
It is easy to see why, as the workers are still able to get a high quality education from the university system built in the Soviet era. And the costs are very low: A watermelon costs about 11 cents. A lovely meal for 6 at a resturant as little as $20.
On my flight in, I sat next to two software execs from Silicon Valley, flying in to check up on the Armenian employees. While there, I met a woman who was a C++ programer. Oh I said, who do you program for? The answer was the Army of the Peoples Republic of China! The impact of IT outsourcing are indeed very broad.
Posted by lacey at October 10, 2003 10:26 PM