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Software means hard dollars
June 3, 1997
From National Correspondent John Holliman
Web posted at: 11:02 p.m. EDT (0302 GMT)ATLANTA (CNN) -- For a little insight into the changing face of the U.S. economy, COMDEX '97 is a good starting point.
The computer trade show, now at Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center, offers a broad cross section of the country's fastest growing economic sector, a tangible indication that the era of the smokestack economy is no more.
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John Holliman reports
"It means we're developing technology which helps manufacturing companies be more competitive and that adds value," said Rick Walters of Oracle Corp.
The people who create software make a lot more money than the rest of us. The average U.S. worker earns $27,900 a year. Computer software makers average $57,300. And the people who design software make even more, averaging $64,500 a year.
"That's why young people are going into it, getting influenced ... their folks saying 'this is where the jobs are going to be 20 to 30 years from now,'" programmer Linda Shaffer said.
The industry is still expanding. An estimated 3.5 million people are expected to be employed in software by 2005.
These workers are shaking up the stodgy old corporate work place in myriad ways.
Consider dress, for starters. Computer programmers usually don't wear business suits. They prefer to wear T-shirts and jeans. And forget about wing tips.
And some programmers such as Erik Kristinsson even work on the job barefoot. "We don't wear socks and shoes," Kristinsson said. "It's company policy."
The underlying message: It's not what you wear, but what you produce that counts.
Related stories:
- Software sales slumping - March 13, 1997
- Plotting the PC's future - March 20, 1997
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