Current Situation – Job Openings and Student Enrollment

 More than 70% of new jobs in Science and Engineering will be in IT.  In fact the number of projected job openings far exceeds the number of expected degrees in computer science.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the same time, the interest in CS is dropping among incoming freshman.  The number of CS majors has fallen more than 60% since 2000 and more than 70% since the early 1980s. 

There was a peak in interest in computing during two points in the last thirty years.  The first time was in the early 80s, coincident with the introduction of personal computers.  The second peak came in the late 1990s when the dot com boom and Y2K concerns simultaneously raised awareness of computing and demand for jobs.  During each of these peaks in interest, the number of men and women went up.  After the peak, the numbers fell. 

Women's Interest in Computing at its Lowest Point

When interest in computing is up, the number of women goes up -- but not as much as it does for men.  When interest falls, the number of women goes down -- but much more than it does for men.

Consequently, the number of women in CS is at its lowest point since the 1970s.  The proportion of women in computing is down 80% since 1998 and down 93% since 1982.

 

Computing is unique within science and engineering with regard to the parity of women's participation.  Only computer science is not gaining women as a proportion of the overall number of bachelor's degrees.

 

How can we meet the demand for IT workers?