Jerry’s Blog–Because Wit Happens

   This site put together an analysis of Labor Department statistics and came up with a projection of the most-needed careers for the upcoming decade.

   I note that 3 of the top 10 are computer-related, and I’m a little skeptical of that since so much computer programming, systems design, etc., is being outsourced–much of it currently to India and I’m sure eventually to China. 

   I’m not saying that this is a bad thing (I’m pro-globalization), but I do think it will impact the salaries of Americans going into the computer fields.

   For young people just starting their post-secondary education–or burn-outs like me, looking at a second (or third) career–when you’re looking ahead, be thinking of whether it is a career that is still going to be there in years to come.  For instance, I’ve always thought that becoming a court reporter (and I love them all and interact with them every day) would be risky, what with the increasing use of video tape and hi-tech audio.  With the speech to text technology improving every year–are we still going to need court reporters in ten years?

On the other hand, most people are not employed in the field of their “college major” 5 years after graduation anyway.

Good luck!