The business world today relies much more heavily on the use of computers than in past generations due to the innovations of the digital revolution. The speed and power of computer processors aid businesses in making many tasks, like record keeping and data filing, much easier and more organized while saving a lot of time and hassle. Therefore, there is only one field of work that businesses will be interested in to get ahead in today’s competitive market: computer science. Businesses need software and qualified workers to operate their computers efficiently; some employers are more than willing to pay a premium price to get the best of what they need. In addition to having high salaries and being high in demand, stress levels of workers in the computer science industry are typically lower than in other employment fields, making jobs that require computer science related skills a wise choice in career.
This graph shows the number of employed workers in a specific field VS. the year. There may be a loss in computer programmers but there is a net gain altogether. Computer information scientists also have a very slight net gain.
This graph takes data from the above graph and totals all the computer science related positions to show that there is a net gain. Note that the vertical axis begins at 1,000,000. This means that roughly 27,000 positions are filled each year on average.
Both graphs made from data from "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics".
This graph shows the top 8 least stressful jobs out of 200 ("JobsRated.com: A Comprehensive Ranking of 200 Different Jobs”). The stress level is calculated by adding up 21 stress factors of which are all assigned a certain value from source 3. Computer Systems Analyst and Software Engineer are 4th and 5th amongst 200 other jobs that were evaluated for stress levels. A job with a lower stress level is usually favored more than a job with a higher stress level.
This graph shows the top 10 most paid bachelor’s degrees ("Salary Survey: Winter 2009"). Computer science is 3’rd in this list with an average salary offering of $58,419. Obviously a job with higher pay is more convenient to have especially in today’s economy.
Consumers today expect nothing less than great customer service, a fair price matching the product’s quality, and an easy, accessible way to attain the product. The simple solution to solve these needs is to use computer systems. The first step for a business to successfully launch a new product is by using advertising, and much of this advertising is done on the business's website among other online advertising methods. The necessary use of web development comprises a large portion of positions in the computer science field. In some cases, space on the internet requires setting up powerful systems that can handle thousands of users at the same time. Network and data communications analysts are needed to set up these complex systems, and then database administrators organize the massive amounts of data that needs to be accessed quickly. Businesses that decide to rely on the internet must also rely on products that allow them to expand into cyberspace; the most necessary being the system environment. System software engineers are among those who create appealing work environments for each office scenario. Programmers and other software engineers are hired to produce programs for these systems, such as making the tools that companies need to operate their business. Each time a new technology is invented that requires the use of a computer system, applications must be made for it to be appealing and easy to use. Computer scientists are those who are responsible for coming up with cutting edge new technology. There are many different types of jobs in the computer science industry, so just about anyone who is interested in working in computer science can find a job suited to their interests.
New technologies that are created inevitably trickle down to computer science related positions. Computer scientist and database administrator positions are expected to grow 37 percent from 2006 to 2016, making it “one of the fastest growing occupations over the next decade” ("U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics"). The currently limited supply of qualified workers provides a higher demand for these positions to be filled and is expected to continue to grow as new technologies are discovered. As a result, demand for computer science related jobs will increase because many businesses will want to create 3rd party applications and other products that use these new technologies. The graphs "Employment in Computer Science Related Jobs" and "Total Employment in Computer Science Related Jobs" on page 3 show the history of employment in computer science jobs. As one can see, even though there is a decrease in computer programmers, there is a net growth in these positions. The dramatic drop in the second graph is likely a result of the dot-com bust. It is not expected that another dramatic drop of employment similar to the dot-com bust will happen again, and even under the unlikely chance that it does, there will always be a growing demand as new technologies are developed. With net gains in computer science related positions, jobs will be easy to find for qualified workers.
This graph shows the number of employed workers in a specific field VS. the year. There may be a loss in computer programmers but there is a net gain altogether. Computer information scientists also have a very slight net gain.
This graph takes data from the above graph and totals all the computer science related positions to show that there is a net gain. Note that the vertical axis begins at 1,000,000. This means that roughly 27,000 positions are filled each year on average.
Both graphs made from data from "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics".
Stress plays a large role in the everyday jobs that people do. While a healthy amount of stress exists, too much of it can be difficult on the body. Some symptoms of stress include: feeling irritable, eating more, loss of concentration, loss of sleep, muscle pains, etc. Different jobs include different amounts of stress that are thrown upon the workers. Therefore, it is a good idea for a worker to choose a career path with a level of stress that they can cope with. Even though there are some that can deal with large amounts of stress, most people should choose careers that they like and that have the least amount of stress as possible. Besides avoiding possible stress symptoms, workers are more likely to succeed when they are working in an environment with low levels of stress. “According to the American Medical Association, stress is a factor in more than 75% of sickness today. And according to the World Health Organization, stress is America’s #1 Health Problem” ("Stress Facts & Stats..."). The graph "Top 8 Least Stressful Jobs", on page 5, shows that two of the top 8 jobs are computer science related. The stress level that the graph uses is comprised of 21 stress factors: quotas, deadlines, advocacy, win or lose situations, working in the public eye, competitiveness, lifting required, physical demands (stoop, climb, etc.), environmental conditions, machines or tools used, speed required, hazards encountered, own life at risk, life of another at risk, precision required, initiative required, stamina required, outdoor work, confinement, detail, and meeting the public ("Jobs Rated Methodology - CareerCast.com"). These jobs have low stress levels because there is not a whole lot for a worker to worry about. Jobs in a computer science related field allow flexibility in the location in which work can be done. Employees can work from home or where it is most comfortable for them. The occasional deadline will create stress; after all, no job is stress free. However, working in teams has become simple with communication technology making collaboration a relatively painless task. More importantly, these jobs require little to no physical activity, which eliminates many stress related problems that jobs with high levels of physical activity have. Computer science related jobs have low amounts of stress and thus are good choices in career paths.
This graph shows the top 8 least stressful jobs out of 200 ("JobsRated.com: A Comprehensive Ranking of 200 Different Jobs”). The stress level is calculated by adding up 21 stress factors of which are all assigned a certain value from source 3. Computer Systems Analyst and Software Engineer are 4th and 5th amongst 200 other jobs that were evaluated for stress levels. A job with a lower stress level is usually favored more than a job with a higher stress level.
An important factor that attracts workers to their dream career is the salary that comes with the job. The amount of money earned is not the only concern for some people when choosing a career; however, it is very difficult to argue that a job with a high salary isn’t a more favorable choice, especially in today’s economy. Computer science offers a wide spectrum of positions for workers that require little to no college all the way up to a Ph.D. level. Employers of computer science related fields do look for education qualifications in their employees; however, experience plays a large role in who is hired as well. “Employers usually look for people who have broad knowledge and experience related to computer systems and technologies, strong problem-solving and analytical skills, and good interpersonal skills” ("U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics"). With the wide acceptance of prerequisite knowledge to get into a computer science field and the large amount of demand for workers, employees are very likely to get a salary they appreciate based on their past experience.
The graph "Top-Paid Bachelor's Degrees by Average Salary" shows the top 10 most paid jobs when the employee in question has no more than a bachelor’s degree. It is not overwhelmingly difficult to get a bachelors degree and the pay-off is worth it. College payments seem like less of a hurdle when one is making around 60,000 dollars a year. Even though Chemical and Mechanical engineering beat computer science in salary, it is unlikely that they can beat the low stress and ease of work that computer science offers; therefore computer science is a clever choice in career.
The graph "Top-Paid Bachelor's Degrees by Average Salary" shows the top 10 most paid jobs when the employee in question has no more than a bachelor’s degree. It is not overwhelmingly difficult to get a bachelors degree and the pay-off is worth it. College payments seem like less of a hurdle when one is making around 60,000 dollars a year. Even though Chemical and Mechanical engineering beat computer science in salary, it is unlikely that they can beat the low stress and ease of work that computer science offers; therefore computer science is a clever choice in career.
This graph shows the top 10 most paid bachelor’s degrees ("Salary Survey: Winter 2009"). Computer science is 3’rd in this list with an average salary offering of $58,419. Obviously a job with higher pay is more convenient to have especially in today’s economy.
It is possible that one could consider jobs in computer science unreachable for most people because of how much the job requires knowledge about math and new technologies. The argument centers on how some could just plain “never understand” the material involved in a computer related job. This is partly true, however not to the point where most people couldn’t make a career in a computer science related field. Consider the wide spectrum of positions talked about previously in the text. Assuming that the only option for one who is troubled by computer related tasks is a job that requires little to no college, the basics of computer science are just above ground knowledge of how to use a computer. For example: web development is achieved through applications of computers, requires next to no math, and most of all, only demands the worker to memorize the basic structure of a web page. Every job requires practice. For those who argue that some people can’t even use a computer, there is little to no excuse for not knowing how to use a computer in the 21st century. It is only a matter of time before everything is maintained by computer systems and how to use computers is common knowledge.
Computer science is a clear possibility for many future job opportunities. Technology will continuously grow and always demand more applications from workers in this field. From developing new software for computers to constructing computer systems to maintain and handle colossal amounts of data, there will always be a demand in computer science related jobs. Because of the demand there will also be generous salaries for a wide range of workers with diverse amounts of experience while offering a working environment that is low in stress. Putting these ideas together concludes that jobs in computer science related fields are indeed wise career choices.
Computer science is a clear possibility for many future job opportunities. Technology will continuously grow and always demand more applications from workers in this field. From developing new software for computers to constructing computer systems to maintain and handle colossal amounts of data, there will always be a demand in computer science related jobs. Because of the demand there will also be generous salaries for a wide range of workers with diverse amounts of experience while offering a working environment that is low in stress. Putting these ideas together concludes that jobs in computer science related fields are indeed wise career choices.
