The internet has grown at a rate far exceeding the development of programming education. As a result, wherever I look, it is clear that there is a low supply of software talent, relative to demand. Everybody needs a good programmer.
One of the main components of business is the concept of supply and demand. As supply exceeds demand, prices will drop. As demand exceeds supply, prices will rise.
Because everybody needs a programmer and they are so hard to find, freelance programmers are able to charge some of the highest per hour rates around. As I walked through the University of Arizona's Career Fair, I couldn't help but notice that every company needed a tech/computer science or MIS major.
Now to shift to a macro-perspective...
Unemployment is one of our country's biggest problems, but the reality is that there is a shortage of skilled labor. Ironically, there is far less competition for skilled positions than unskilled positions. Microsoft, having trouble finding "techies", has gone as far as to call the situation a crisis, lobbying the government to increase emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math teaching at schools.
As our technology continues to grow exponentially, our education system is quickly becoming archaic. We must do a better job of adapting to the new realities within our schools, before the U.S. loses it's competitive edge.
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