Doom
New England is headed for a "significant recession," according to the Wall Street Journal. Unemployment, currently 5.5% in Massachusetts, is projected to peak at 8.3% in mid-2010. These projections were released by The New England Economic Partnership (NEEP).
Gloom
More than two dozen technology-related companies in the metro Boston area have announced layoffs totaling more than 3,000 jobs. Xconomy, "the authoritative voice on the exponential economy", has begun tracking job losses via its Boston Tech Layoff Tracker.
Hope
Despite the doom and gloom, work is reasonably plentiful for technology workers with the right skills. According to a monthly report from Dice.com, demand in the Boston area remains reasonably strong for technology professionals with the following skills and experience:
- .NET
- Java
- PHP
- Web developer
The Top 10 Skill Sets most in-demand at Dice.com are listed here.
Project management experience is valued more than any other skill except for Java. According to a survey published in The Dice Report (pdf) here are the three best ways to demonstrate project management skills in your job hunt:
- Organizing and tracking all steps of the job search process
- Thinking strategically before creating my tactical to-do list
- Communicating to the employer your ROI
Access Boston Still Presents Niche Opportunities at Dice.com for details.
