Era of IT layoffs coming to an end

If you want a sign of where the employment market in IT is heading, look not to MySpace's announced layoff of half its staff. Instead, look to Google's more recent announcement that it will add 6,000 employees to its payroll.

According to one of the nation's leading outplacement firms, the era of widespread layoffs in IT is coming to an end. As reported on Fins.com, Challenger, Gray and Christmas CEO John Challenger says his company's latest report on employment in the industry showed that the number of layoffs in the technology industry dropped dramatically in the second half of 2010 relative to the first.

"Unless we see a double-dip recession -- and I think the chance of that has faded -- the tech sector looks poised for more hiring," he said.

Technology companies announced layoffs affecting 11,450 workers from July to December 2010. That's one-third the number that were let go between January and June, when tech firms cut 35,375 jobs.

Moreover, the carnage in the industry in 2010 was the lowest it's been in a decade - a 73% plunge from 2009. And tech layoffs accounted for less than 9% of all layoffs last year, also a record low share.

These figures suggest that, as other bloggers on this board have also noted, this is actually a good time to consider a career in IT if you're looking to change careers. The first step is to get education and training in the field if you don't know it already; Tech Careers' Education Index has dozens of IT degree and certification programs - there's sure to be one that fits your needs and schedule.

By Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith has been blogging for TechCareers.com since 2010. In addition to launching award-winning newspapers and newsletters at the University of Pennsylvania and Widener University, Sandy is a veteran writer whose articles and essays have appeared in several local and regional media outlets, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, and PGN, and on several Web sites. He is also an active participant on several discussion boards, including PhiladelphiaSpeaks.com, where he posts as “MarketStEl.” He has been supporting himself through a combination of freelance and part-time work and unemployment compensation since early 2009 and is himself an active job-seeker. Read more of his posts on TechCareersBlog.com and follow him to Nexxt for more job opportunities.