The Business and Technology Merger:
Are you qualified for the fusion?

There is no doubt that the application of technology in business will be instrumental in the recovery of the U.S. economy. Although the recession of 2000 moved technology down the list of subjects making the business headlines, it has not changed its importance to everyday life and commerce. As John C. Dvorak, of PC Magazine, comments:

"We're living amidst computer-related activity that is nothing short of incredible"

The point is that technology, in one form or another, pervades almost every aspect of our working and domestic life. According to the U.S. Census bureau, home computer use in 2000 was 51%, up from 42% in 1998. There is no data available for 2003, but it is reasonable to estimate that 65% or more homes in the United States now have a computer in the home. In the work place, according to a recent Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) study, 92 percent of employees in technology positions work for companies that are not typically considered "technology" companies. From an employment perspective, this opens up new avenues for individuals with a technology, or business and technology, qualification.

Why a Technology Degree?

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that the largest group of employers will be the computer services firms. However, manufacturing, financial services industries, entertainment industries and government will be increasing their intake of IT professionals. The number of jobs is set to double, at least, between 1998 and 2008 and the ITAA estimates that 450,000 jobs will go unfilled in the coming years. Five of the top ten fastest growing job categories are technology related. These are:

• Computer Engineers
• Computer Support Specialists
• Systems Analysts
• Database Administrators
• Desk Top Publishing specialists

Almost all jobs in these categories demand a two-year degree, minimum, with many requiring a four-year degree.

The Benefits of a Technology Degree

U.S. Census Bureau figures show how wide the gap is between degree-holding managers their unqualified colleagues. Bachelor degree holders earn, on average, 43% more than their non-graduate peers. Master's degree holders earn a further 13%. In the technology sector salaries are above average and in 2000 technology managers were earning up to $127,460 per annum. For some categories within the sector, the predicted percentage rise is 144.8% between 2000 and 2010.

Whether you want to work as a shop manager, restaurateur, film editor, forestry manager, finance consultant or web designer, you will need technical and computing skills to do the job. Degree-level education in a technology-related subject is almost a prerequisite for today's ambitious managers. Countrywide, jobs requiring a higher education will increase significantly by 2010. For example, jobs requiring an Associate degree as minimum are expected to increase by 32%.

No one can gaze into a crystal ball and predict the future with total certainty. However, preparing for a future in an industry sector that already has a shortfall of employees and recognized growth areas would seem a wise precaution. A degree in a technology-related subject could be all the preparation required.



About the Author

A freelance writer, Katrina Boydon has worked as a research microbiologist at the Royal London Hospital Medical College, assistant editor-in-chief for a journal published by Blackwell Scientific Publications, and as managing director of a postal and courier company, and set up her own business distributing newspapers and magazines in Moscow, Russia. She has a bachelor's degree in microbiology and studied part-time at the London Business School. Always an advocate of technology in business, she currently lives in the French Alps and fulfills her role as Editor-in-Chief of QuinStreet Publishing remotely using a variety of technology-related applications.