Offshoring doesn’t mean entry level works
A recent University of California study carried out on off-shoring / outsourcing reveals not all entry-level tech jobs in USA are being sent overseas. According the researchers argument “down-skilling” of certain IT work along with training programmers has the potential to help low-income earners “into jobs with a career ladder.”
Even though work is getting off-shored / outsourced, the study confirms American economy still offers considerable opportunities to those with little or no college education to obtain entry-level work in IT.
The reports conclusion seems to be in direct contradiction to the hype surrounding the off-shoring / outsourcing phenomena, with the talk never ending about companies sending basic coding work including certain high-end research and design work to low cost countries such as India, China, Canada, Ireland, Philippines and South America. And, US techies and others similarly affected are constantly barraged with suggestions on upgrading skills or combining business with tech savviness to remain competitive with the low-wage earners who are stealing their jobs.
But, the report sets forth a theory that IT itself is responsible for worsening the social divisions and income equality by fueling an economic transformation of high-end knowledge workers and low-skill service workers.
An interview of more than 200-people i.e. IT employers, job seekers and training providers, including other research, the study found it was possible to bridge the so-called digital divide. As computers become increasingly commonplace, entry-level IT jobs e.g. computer support are emerging, evolving into separate jobs instead of additional work for computer programmers. Requiring relatively little training, even people with insufficient education can do these “IT Maintenance” jobs.
Meaning some IT tech work could be retained onshore instead of being sent overseas to China, India, Canada, Ireland, South American or Philippines. Despite companies continuing to off-shore / outsource routine jobs outside their core competencies, they are slowly discovering IT support is actually core to company operations. This has led some of them to set up in-house support centers to avoid routing help calls overseas.
If US low-skilled, lower-wage workers are to find employment, they will need to be put on job training programmers, programmers that will help these disadvantaged individuals to network into viable employment.
The study indirectly points out that no one is responsible for the off-shoring / outsourcing of American jobs. The onus lies with the Americans themselves as they are not upgrading their education, skills and talents to compete successfully with low cost countries. Too many years of soft living, having it easy when even school dropouts could get lucrative work and maintain a middle-end lifestyle has made Americans lazy, relying on new immigrants to do their work, unwilling to go the extra mile to retain their competitive advantage.
Meanwhile, rich countries turned Third World by rapacious colonizers from the west, dream of the past riches and glories of their countries. They dream big, of turning their nations into First Worlds through sheer dint of brain power, education, talents and skill. Fresh faced youngsters who have shaken off the shackles of a colonial mindset, ambitious, driven, hankering after a more affluent lifestyle than their parents, they are ready to take on the world, and have done so. They can be likened to the immigrants who settled America to make a better life for them selves and their children. Now, through sheer dint of hard work and genius, India, and others are elbowing themselves into the position of becoming Numero Uno in the world.
No amount of bad press, hate, rage, mean jokes can alter the fact that it is the smugly complacent Americans themselves, who are responsible for the current state of affairs. A state of affairs that will not change as the ball has been set rolling. As in the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, this could be the Rise and Fall of the American Empire! Either you join forces with your competitors or rue the day. Americans have to get an education, learn new skills, develop additional talents and stop demanding higher pay packets for less work, more than they are worth. Off-shoring / outsourcing is a beneficial two-way street, both outsourcing companies and service providing companies gain by working in tandem for mutual benefits.
Lets accept the New Order of the Day with a generously competitive spirit, a spirit that competes in an above board, honest manner rather than trying underhand tactics of making a poor overseas techie miserable for having taken your call. Lets not be mean-spirited, America can afford to be generous!1
Source : www.offshoringtimes.com
