Political Quotes

“the shortage of skilled workers is one of the most critical issues facing the U.S. information technology [IT] industry today. Our position as world leader in this industry is threatened--not by technology--but by a shortage of necessary labor. This issue is underscored by what we see in the want-ads every week: thousands of high-paying jobs unfilled, because there are not enough skilled applicants. There is a shortage of nearly 200,000 workers nationwide. The economic impact of this shortfall is being felt in every State and congressional district across America. Virginia, with its growing high-tech industry, is particularly hard hit--it is currently estimated that 18,000 jobs are currently unfilled. Technology-based businesses in Virginia number over 2,450, employ more than 290,000 workers, and contribute more than $13.8 billion in wages to the State's economy. At current rates of growth, by 2002 these numbers are expected to jump to over 4,000 companies, employing about 330,000, with $22 billion in wages. The average technology sector worker in Virginia earned $45,288 in 1996, compared to an average wage of $26,608 in the Virginia economy as a whole. By 2002, the average technology sector wage could grow to over $63,000. By any measure, these are the jobs of the future. But unless our workforce is educated and trained properly, these jobs will remain unfilled or, worse yet, move to countries with the necessary qualified people.”