The high-tech downturn isn't over yet, and it may have taken a step backward, based on the latest employment figures from IEEE-USA. According to the organization, unemployment among EEs rose from 6.4% in the second quarter to 6.7% in the third, for a total of 37,000 newly unemployed engineers. Meanwhile, the overall unemployment rate fell from 5.6% to 5.5% during the same period. IEEE-USA cites the use of workers on H1-B visas and increased overseas outsourcing as causes for the increase.
Specifically, the rate climbed for computer hardware engineers, from 5.7% to 6.9%. It also rose from 4.1% to 4.6% for computer software engineers and soared for network and computer systems administrators, from 5.6% to 7.6%. However, it dropped for computer scientists and systems analysts (5.6% to 4.8%), computer programmers (7.5% to 7.1%), and data communications analysts (5.5% to 5.0%). These figures are based on data compiled by the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For further information, go to www.ieeeusa.org.