Originally posted on May 3, 2007 @ 6:18 am
I was browsing through reddit the other day searching for information on the current state of techie jobs and came upon a fascinating report about a minor trend among software developers. Apparently, there’s a growing crowd of computer science majors who are stepping up and filling the shortage in some “lost art” technical jobs .
The article suggests that while most computer and tech related job markets are bloated with supply, there are some unique outlets for technically minded people who also have a pension for hands-on physical work. According to one individual quoted in the article, many techies have a desire to see “physical results instead of just virtual results” in their work. Most of these emerging job opportunities are in “lost art” jobs which require high-precision technical skill and can’t be filled by off-the-street labor.
One of the careers at the center of this (let me emphasize) minor movement is mechanical watchmaking and design. As demand for luxury watches increases around the world (along with fast growing standards of living in many previously 3rd and 2nd world countries) the need for skilled watchmakers and engineers increases. But there’s a problem… the supply of professionals in this career is quite low, and unlike with most careers, colleges and universities don’t provide “minor league” training.
So, it seems that 1) the high demand for technically oriented people in unorthodox careers combined with 2) a glut of software developers and computer science majors has created a perfect storm for techies who want a more hands-on outlet for their technical skills and sensibilities.