Java jobs easy to find; skills hard to come by

While Java is the biggest new development language to emerge in many years, a
shortage of experienced Java programmers could dash all hopes within the IT industry
for large-scale Java deployment anytime soon.

Even an apparent dot-com meltdown is unlikely to free up enough Java talent
to meet IT needs. At the same time, training existing staff in Java is no simple
task.

Java was released in 1995 by Sun Microsystems, and the popularity of the cross-platform
language skyrocketed in the first two years after its introduction. From 1997
to 1999, the growth of worldwide Java developer seats occurred at a blistering
pace, expanding 62.9 percent over those two years, according to the "1999
IDC Worldwide Professional Developer Model." The same report forecast continuing,
if slower, Java developer growth in years to follow. Java, for example, is expected
to be growing at a still-impressive 29.4 percent in 2003.

Besides cross-platform support, improved productivity is a potential Java attribute
that intrigues application development managers.

"Java is finally getting to the place where it's widely infused,"
said Howard Rubin, executive vice president at META Group. "About one out
of eight new systems is being done in Java." Still, in many locations,
skilled Java programmers are difficult to find. Lack of experience may play
a part in slowing Java growth, as time and money are lost while companies train
developers.

For example, according to a recent study by Gartner Group, converting COBOL
developers to Java would prove too expensive and time-consuming for many enterprises.

"The cost of converting a COBOL developer to Java could be close to 90
percent of a COBOL developer's salary," said Joe Feiman, vice president
and research director at Gartner. And not all COBOL developers actually succeed
in learning Java, he noted.

Moreover, Feiman said there are many factors to consider besides cost. These
include the time required to develop software and train developers. You have
to ask yourself how long you can afford to wait for those people to get up to
level, he said.

Despite the cost, some companies may choose this route because of the shortage
of professional Java developers.

"It is impossible to find developers in some areas (of the world),"
Feiman said.

Although training can help alleviate the problem, many developers learn through
self-education. "There's a lot of do-it-yourself out there," Meta
Group's Rubin said. Books, informative Websites, and just plain on-the-job trial
and error.

According to Feiman, 40 percent of developers learn through self-training and
"hidden training," meaning that they learn as they go.

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