The largest drops occurred among computer programmers, followed by electrical and electronics engineers, then computer scientists and systems analysts. These declines were offset by substantial employment increases for computer and information systems managers, computer hardware engineers and computer software engineers.
"The drop in computer programmers and rise in managers reflects the trend toward offshoring of programming jobs and the resulting need for professionals to manage outsourced projects," IEEE-USA President Gerard A. Alphonse said.
According to the BLS, computer programmers have taken the biggest hit, with a drop of more than 24 percent -- from 745,000 in 2000 to 564,000 in 2004. In addition, the number of employed electrical and electronics engineers shrunk by 101,000, from 444,000 in 2000 to 343,000 last year, a decrease of nearly 23 percent. Computer scientists and systems analysts have experienced similar losses, dropping more than 16 percent, from 835,000 in 2000 to 700,000 in 2004.
However, employed computer and information systems managers have jumped from 228,000 in 2000 to 337,000 last year, a dramatic increase of almost 48 percent. Computer hardware engineers rose from 83,000 in 2000 to 96,000 in 2004, a nearly 16 percent increase. Employed computer software engineers have risen by 74,000, from 739,000 in 2000 to 813,000 in 2004, a 10 percent increase.
The table below summarizes the BLS data:
| Job Classification | 2000 | 2004 | Change | Pct. |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 83,000 | 96,000 | +13,000 | +15.7 |
| Computer & Info. Systems Managers | 228,000 | 337,000 | +109,000 | +47.8 |
| Computer Programmers | 745,000 | 564,000 | -181,000 | -24.3 |
| Computer Scientists & Systems Analysts | 835,000 | 700,000 | -135,000 | -16.2 |
| Computer Software Engineers | 739,000 | 813,000 | +74,000 | +10.0 |
| Electrical & Electronics Engineers | 444,000 | 343,000 | -101,000 | -22.7 |
| Total | 3,074,000 | 2,853,000 | -221,000 | -7.2 |
IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of the IEEE. It was created in 1973 to advance the public good and promote the careers and public policy interests of the more than 220,000 technology professionals who are U.S. members of the IEEE. The IEEE is the world's largest technical professional society. For more information, go to http://www.ieeeusa.org.
Contact: Chris McManes
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Phone: 1-202-785-0017, ext. 8356
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