Employer Needs Survey: Analysis by Curriculum Topic

As the demand for Information Systems (IS) and Information Technology (IT) graduates grows, it is imperative that the curriculum in IS and IT programs meet employer needs. At the same time it is important that these programs do not become ‘training ’ programs but rather teach skills enabling students to learn new technologies as they evolve. IS and IT educators encounter a continuing challenge to insure that their courses and curriculum stay up to date with the technological changes in the field as well as being relevant to the business commu-nity. This research summarizes the results of an employer survey conducted at four different universities and their service areas. It is similar to other employer surveys in querying job-hiring expectations, but unique in that it queries the detailed job skills required for specific occupations. The paper also compares the results of a similar survey conducted in 2002/2003. Survey results indicated that Help Desk and Software Development occupations have the highest anticipated hiring levels in the surveyed areas for the 2007-2008 period