Careers in Technology
A Bright Spot in Today's Economy

Many students graduating from high school this year are undoubtedly worried about the current economic situation and how it may affect their career prospects. Nobody can say for sure how long this downturn will last, but the good news is that there are still bright spots in the economy that will provide opportunities for those with the right skills.

As a new high school graduate, it is important to understand where these bright spots are, and to prepare yourself to take advantage of them. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 854,000 professional IT jobs will be added between 2006 and 2016. At the same time, the Computing Research Association's annual survey has found that enrollment in undergraduate degree programs in computer sciences has just begun to increase slightly after falling more than 50 percent over five years.

With demand for these workers increasing, the time is perfect to consider an education in computer science fields. Below are three career areas worth exploring:

1. Health Information Technology

In a world constantly growing more digital, many people would be surprised by how many hospitals and other healthcare providers still rely on paper records instead of electronic records. Paper records pose a variety of problems for doctors and patients, which is why President Obama has focused on this issue as a simple step toward healthcare reform.

Making this switch to electronic health records will require many more workers with specialized skills. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that jobs for health information technicians will increase 18 percent from 2006 to 2016. These skills can be applied to a wide variety of work settings, including hospitals, family doctors' offices, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies and government agencies.

Now is the time to learn the skills necessary to take part in this exciting transformation in our nation's healthcare system. Working in this field will require an understanding of how to navigate health information applications, databases and records. You can even help develop the systems that can make this vision a reality!

By helping to make this transition to electronic records, you will help doctors treat patients more effectively, cut down on the need for expensive (and sometimes dangerous) repeated medical tests and protect patients' privacy and security. We've all heard of the need for healthcare reform - now you can be a part of the solution.

2. Computer and Electronics Engineering

Throughout each day, we use technology to perform countless tasks for work and play - emailing a teacher a report, researching a topic online, downloading music, texting friends. It's all made possible by the people who design, produce and maintain the devices and programs most of us use without a second thought. Workers behind this ongoing effort are familiar with the inner workings of the hardware and software that power our world.

As technology enhances more areas of our lives, the need for workers well versed in computer engineering and electronics engineering will only increase. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected enormous growth in these related fields through 2014.

This knowledge is useful in various markets, including research, manufacturing, medical, communications, security and consumer products. While it's certainly exciting to think about being behind today's advanced technologies, an education in these fields prepares you to be a part of innovations not yet imagined.

3. Information Systems

In today's world, behind every successful business is a well-functioning computer information system. From networking to Web development to database management and beyond, it's the workers who oversee the information systems that keep a business running efficiently.

As new, more sophisticated technologies are created, companies will always find ways to apply them to a competitive marketplace, and they will always need workers who can make it happen. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 16 percent increase in employment of computer and information systems managers over the 2006-16 decade.

Taking advantage of opportunities in this field demands an ability to design, develop, test and evaluate software and computer systems for practical use. Master these highly sought-after skills, and a career in just about any industry is within your reach.

Article provided by Simon Lumley, Metro President, DeVry University – Dallas located in Irving, Texas.