RedmondJP – I really don’t know where you are coming from. Did I say that there was no problem because everybody works in my field? You seem to be attacking me for "chocolate" that I did not say.

I wrote about what I am seeing because I am sick of hearing about how we desperately need people at work, and then coming home and hearing that the local software companies are going to tumble. These two things don’t jive.

Thanks for the observations David McManus – if the full spectrum of programming jobs is having trouble hiring, then I don’t see layoffs in that field, or the layoffs having a large effect.

As for the offshoring thing, I don’t see that being a problem for software development. Apart from answering phones, I don’t see many technology jobs around me moving there. Multinationals are setting up offices in India and China, but the number of jobs there is still disproportionate to the quantity of product sold (meaning the US is still benefiting from it). I think that the industry quickly learned that managing a complex engineering problem across the planet is a nontrivial task.

No, the US will continue to be the home of the software industry for a while. And this is not being jingoistic on my part, because I have a green card and I wish my home country could do better.

On the housing bubble track – what will the local market look like when some industries (like software) are going swimmingly, and others (like real estate and building supplies) are not? It seems like it will unfortunately keep prices more afloat than they deserve to be in good old Redmond.

And if you made a programming error, even a really simple to fix error, with the lines at the card-punch machines and having to resubmit your program, it could mean a turn-around time of several hours. Oh yes – those were the good old days!

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2008/02/evidence-of-walking-away-in-wamu.html

That’s what they are always saying the morning of a layoff.

If you needed one more stat to prove the economy is tanking; February numbers are in and even Toyota sales are down. TOYOTA!!!

Do the 27% worried about a household income job loss this year, have like 6 months worth of replacement emergency pay in a ready cash account?

Forget about a 2nd mortgage for home equity cash machine cash; you lost an income and you don;’t qualify. Besides, what home equity lately?

If you rent, you’ll likely need the emergency cash for a roof and food. Remember, unemployment is likely taxable income too.

Best Ray Pepper quote ever.

I agree 100%, magnolia. The problem is that hardly anyone does this anymore and when they get into trouble, like losing a job, they whine and complain about how tough times are. I have to recommend highly that everyone have an emergency savings account with a minimum of 6 months of living expenses that is never touched, except of course, in a true emergency. A big sale at Nordstrom doesn’t constitute an emergency. And the excuse “Well, I can just dip into my home equity” doesn’t count as an emergency account, either. Cash money, people. 100s and 20s.

Didn’t you know? When you buy a house in Seattle they issue you gold plated pom-poms that immediately cloud your objectivity.

Everyone should know that Seattle is recession proof. Boeing won’t lose any orders to airbus, MS won’t be fined or have to reduce the price on Vista, and people are going to continue max out their credit cards buying crap they don’t need on Amazon.com!!!

Pink ponies and gold pom-pom’s for everyone! We don’t have to worry about recessions in Seattle, WE ARE SPECIAL!!!!!

Boys, before you can finish your remedial C++–+++ class, your jobs will be performed by Rajish (excuse me…”Tom”) many time zones away. Sharpen up your social skills, learn to chew with your mouth closed, and how to hold a fork and a knife properly, because you’ll end-up in sales like most everyone else!!!!

Job security, MY ASS!!! Welcome to the new World.

So what should all the software nerds do? Cry? Should we be ashamed that we’re employed? Should we all just quit our jobs in protest?

I’m confused.

I know that I have to stay up to date in my field. Duh! What field doesn’t? You are right in that few companies are going to pay you to learn the skills. YOU have to go out on YOUR OWN and learn them. It’s called initiative, buddy.

The one thing that irratates me is when a person like Magnolia44 buys they become super cheerleader.

There are countless thousands of people employed in the greater Puget Sound area who do NOT have software skills (I know, hard to believe, huh).

I took Fortran and Basic while in college 20 years ago, does that mean I can go out and get one of these openings? I wish!

I’m happy that you have no worries about continuing employment, but not all of us have the skills to get those jobs. I have no doubt that I could do the work and I really like programming, but I have never had the opportunity to do so during my 18 years of work experience since college, and with a new baby and home remodeling as well as looking for a new job, don’t have the time to teach myself C++ at home. What company is going to hire me in order to train me to do this?

I’m happy for you, really. I hope you can keep relevant in your field, and don’t find yourself washed up by 45 when your company decides to replace you with a 22-year-old hot-shot programmer right out of school for half of your salary (that never happens, right?).

Hmmm, crying baby for 2 hours must have made daddy a bit cranky at 1:40am, eh?

http://www.500Realty.net

What about option D?

D.) I made so much money by selling my overpriced home in Seattle and moving elsewhere that I no longer have to work a real job.

We’re still backlogged and hiring in my commercial construction business.

Maybe some of the more web oriented startup companies have worries, I don’t know.”

We tend to deal mainly with non-Microsoft open source development (Java, Ruby, etc.) and we’re not having issues with jobs. If anything, we don’t have enough qualified candidates for the positions we have available. Just from talking with other colleagues in IT, it doesn’t sound like we’re going to get hit as hard as other industries, like…..I don’t know…..real estate!

Yeah it can happen and if you made your money in real estate you are at risk…but jeez. Lets tack on prices are over inflated because people had jobs that should have never been available.

Bottom line is yeah jobs are going to be at risk but this as a topic is a little
Fear monger much?

Everybody in my field has openings for experience levels across the board, and has been looking for ages, and many people have multiple openings.

The demand seems to be so high that anybody who does get laid off could land another job in a week or two (again, as long as they can pass an interview). Even good candidates right out of college are dry on the ground.

Maybe some of the more web oriented startup companies have worries, I don’t know.