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Fact Check: IT knowledge. There are several factors at work here. Colleges are mostly a few years behind trends, if not more. So a lot of recent grads are way behind from the gate. Most colleges are now just shills for business licenses called "degrees," You need this "license" to be "allowed" to have a entry job, and they know it, and charge whatever the market can bear. Pearson Vue has seized a huge amount of this space, which just adds to the cost, and tries to enforce certification tracks with government contract specs and all sorts of inroads. The "cash cow" of graduating college with 6 figure jobs waiting for them is mostly gone. The junior roles have been outsourced overseas, and have been replaced with people with multiple hats. There are very few "middle roles," so the track of going from junior to senior has a HUGE gap that keeps getting wider. The senior roles are starting to age out: many went into management, and some are retiring. Knowledge and experience is getting lost. Companies reliant on technology to surve are cutting technology costs as a "cost center" because of the pressure of rising capitalism always producing value year to year. Thus, they send more jobs overseas, and senior roles become too costly to maintain. We are incurring a lot of "debt" in aging infrastructure, and IT is no different. There are systems operating high-cost operations in factories, transportation, and utilities that haven't been upgraded in decades, and some of the people who knew how it all worked are dying off. Eventually, there won't be enough senior roles to teacher younger people anything, and there will be a cascading series of knowledge gaps in current infrastructure, leading to huge failures. People say that "kids today know computers" but they really don't: most only know GUI and how to operate an iPad, not what makes the iPad work under the hood or how the Internet works.

April 9, 2025•by TruthOrFake

The Claim: An Examination of IT Knowledge and Workforce Trends

Introduction

The claim discusses several interconnected issues regarding the state of IT knowledge among recent graduates, the evolving job market, and the implications of these trends for the future workforce. It posits that colleges are lagging behind industry trends, resulting in graduates who are ill-prepared for the job market. The assertion further suggests that the outsourcing of junior roles, the aging workforce, and the lack of adequate training are leading to significant knowledge gaps in IT, which could have dire consequences for infrastructure and technology management.

What We Know

  1. Colleges and Workforce Preparation: A survey cited by CNN indicates that 58% of hiring managers believe recent college graduates are unprepared for the workforce, highlighting a disconnect between educational institutions and industry needs 7. This aligns with findings from various studies indicating that colleges often struggle to keep curricula updated with rapidly changing technological trends 4.

  2. Skills Gaps: The Congressional Research Service has reported on the ongoing skills gap in the labor market, noting that there is often an imbalance between the skills employers seek and those possessed by job seekers 3. This gap is particularly pronounced in technology fields, where rapid advancements can outpace educational offerings.

  3. Outsourcing and Job Market Changes: The outsourcing of junior roles has been documented in various reports, with many companies opting for cost-effective solutions overseas, which can limit opportunities for entry-level positions domestically 8. This trend has been exacerbated by economic pressures and the need for companies to maintain profitability.

  4. Aging Workforce: A significant portion of the current IT workforce is nearing retirement age, leading to concerns about a loss of institutional knowledge and expertise 6. This demographic shift could create a vacuum in senior roles, making it difficult for younger professionals to gain mentorship and experience.

  5. Technological Infrastructure: The aging infrastructure in many industries, including IT, has been identified as a critical issue. Many systems in use today have not been updated in decades, and as experienced personnel retire, the knowledge required to maintain these systems may be lost 1.

Analysis

The claim raises several important points about the current state of IT education and workforce dynamics. However, the sources supporting these assertions vary in reliability and potential bias.

  • Credibility of Sources: The CNN article 7 is a mainstream media source that provides survey data from hiring managers, making it a credible source for understanding employer perceptions. However, it may reflect a particular narrative that emphasizes the shortcomings of higher education without fully exploring the complexities of the job market.

  • Research Studies: The Congressional Research Service report 3 offers a more academic perspective on skills gaps and labor market dynamics. Its findings are based on a comprehensive review of existing literature and data, lending it a higher degree of reliability.

  • Industry Insights: Reports from industry insiders, such as those from IT Pro Today 6, provide valuable insights into emerging trends and challenges within the IT sector. However, these sources may have inherent biases as they often represent the interests of specific companies or sectors.

  • Methodological Concerns: While surveys and reports provide useful data, they often rely on self-reported measures, which can introduce bias. For example, hiring managers' perceptions of graduate preparedness may be influenced by their own experiences and expectations, which may not universally apply across all sectors.

  • Lack of Specific Data: The claim mentions a "cascading series of knowledge gaps" but does not provide specific evidence or examples to substantiate this assertion. More detailed data on the specific skills lacking in recent graduates or the exact impact of outsourcing would strengthen the argument.

Conclusion

Verdict: Mostly True

The claim that colleges are lagging behind industry trends, resulting in unprepared graduates, is supported by several credible sources. Surveys indicate a significant percentage of hiring managers believe recent graduates lack the necessary skills for the workforce, and reports highlight ongoing skills gaps in the IT sector. Additionally, the outsourcing of junior roles and the aging workforce further complicate the job market landscape, potentially exacerbating these issues.

However, the evidence is not entirely definitive. While there is a consensus on the existence of skills gaps, the specific extent and impact of these gaps can vary widely across different sectors and regions. Furthermore, the sources used to support these claims have varying degrees of reliability and may reflect biases inherent to their perspectives. The lack of detailed data on specific skills deficiencies and the complexities of the job market also contribute to the uncertainty surrounding the claim.

Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information presented and consider the nuances of the current IT workforce landscape. The interplay between education, industry needs, and labor market dynamics is complex and requires ongoing examination.

Sources

  1. Li, L. (2022). Reskilling and Upskilling the Future-ready Workforce for ... Retrieved from PMC
  2. Dell, K. (2022). Assessing the Impact of New Technologies on the Labor ... Retrieved from BLS
  3. Skills Gaps: A Review of Underlying Concepts and Evidence. (2022). Retrieved from CRS
  4. The Partnership Imperative: Community Colleges, ... (2022). Retrieved from HBS
  5. Kelly, J. (2024). Predictions For The Tech Job Market In 2025. Retrieved from Forbes
  6. IT Career Trends and Predictions 2025 From Industry Insiders. (2025). Retrieved from IT Pro Today
  7. Degree in hand, jobs out of reach: Why recent grads are ... (2025). Retrieved from CNN
  8. 42% of IT Professionals Are Exploring New Jobs: IT Talent Trends 2025. Retrieved from Info-Tech
  9. The Big Challenges Driving Today’s Workforce Skills Gaps. (2024). Retrieved from Altium
  10. 9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2025 and Beyond. (2025). Retrieved from HBR

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Fact Check: IT knowledge. There are several factors at work here. Colleges are mostly a few years behind trends, if not more. So a lot of recent grads are way behind from the gate. Most colleges are now just shills for business licenses called "degrees," You need this "license" to be "allowed" to have a entry job, and they know it, and charge whatever the market can bear. Pearson Vue has seized a huge amount of this space, which just adds to the cost, and tries to enforce certification tracks with government contract specs and all sorts of inroads. The "cash cow" of graduating college with 6 figure jobs waiting for them is mostly gone. The junior roles have been outsourced overseas, and have been replaced with people with multiple hats. There are very few "middle roles," so the track of going from junior to senior has a HUGE gap that keeps getting wider. The senior roles are starting to age out: many went into management, and some are retiring. Knowledge and experience is getting lost. Companies reliant on technology to surve are cutting technology costs as a "cost center" because of the pressure of rising capitalism always producing value year to year. Thus, they send more jobs overseas, and senior roles become too costly to maintain. We are incurring a lot of "debt" in aging infrastructure, and IT is no different. There are systems operating high-cost operations in factories, transportation, and utilities that haven't been upgraded in decades, and some of the people who knew how it all worked are dying off. Eventually, there won't be enough senior roles to teacher younger people anything, and there will be a cascading series of knowledge gaps in current infrastructure, leading to huge failures. People say that "kids today know computers" but they really don't: most only know GUI and how to operate an iPad, not what makes the iPad work under the hood or how the Internet works. | TruthOrFake Blog