Monster Founder Jeff Taylor Counsels Chicago High School Students to Keep Technology Careers in Their Sights

CHICAGO, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- With all the job cuts at IT companies, why in the world would students consider a career in technology? That was a topic at a roundtable discussion with teenagers from a Chicago high school on Wednesday.

Monster founder and American workforce expert Jeff Taylor offered his prognosis: Because there's a workforce shortage right around the corner, and people who are savvy about the integration of business and technology are going to be among those in high demand by employers.

Knowledge workers -- those who use their heads more than their hands, such as employees involved in the creation and application of technology -- will continue to be in high demand, according to Taylor. "The human capital shortage is just around the corner and it is the knowledge worker who is going to be at the center of company desperation," said Taylor, who was in Chicago Wednesday at Jones College Prep High School, 606 S. State Street, to deliver that message to high school students, educators, as well as business leaders and policymakers earlier in the day.

Taylor's trip to Chicago came at the invitation of DeVry University, in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.

Monster's founder (formerly Monster.com , a global online career network) said the demographics alone suggest that the job market is going to turn around -- not only for those involved with technology but for a variety of careers. He said approximately 70 million Baby Boomers will exit the workforce during the next 15 years, with only 40 million workers coming in.

One of the survivors of the dot.com crash, Taylor says it's important to understand that the Internet has fundamentally changed the way we do business, and organizations need people who can help them tap the power of technology.

"Toys 'R' Us will never be the same because of eToys. Barnes & Noble will never be the same because of Amazon. You can just about figure that in the next 10 years, your business will never be the same because of somebody else," he says. Taylor spoke with students at Jones College Prep High School in the South Loop, a magnet school that draws students from across Chicago, following a breakfast dialogue with business leaders, educators and policymakers.

Dennis Keller, chairman and co-CEO of DeVry, said high school students are a little more cautious these days when it comes to choosing technology-focused college majors given the dot.com crash and ensuing technology recession.

"We're here today to address that concern -- in the affirmative. It's an extremely tough environment out there for job seekers. We all know that," Keller said. "But the fact remains that we need knowledge workers now and we're going to need even more technology-savvy people in the very near future."

Jerry Roper, CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, said Taylor's message is an important one for businesses and policymakers in the region.

"Notwithstanding the tech recession, we must continue to make investments in science and technology to keep our region competitive in the years ahead," Roper said.

Chicago Public Schools leaders said they were glad to hear an upbeat message about eventual career prospects for CPS graduates.

"We want to keep our students informed about the job market and career opportunities," said Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott. "Leaders in the business community represent one of the best sources of this information."

"We want to present as many sound choices and opportunities for our students as possible," said CPS CEO Arne Duncan. We are proud and honored to have Jeff Taylor and experts from DeVry educate our students on future job opportunities."

Under Taylor's leadership Monster has revolutionized the job search industry, both how people look for jobs and how companies recruit. The Monster global network, founded in 1994, consists of local content and language sites in 21 countries and serves more than 14 million unique visitors monthly.

DeVry University offers associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs in technology, business, and management. More than 52,000 students in 18 states and two Canadian provinces are enrolled at its 26 undergraduate campuses and 37 adult learning centers, including DeVry University Online. DeVry University, based in Oakbrook Terrace, has three campuses in Chicago, Addison and Tinley Park, along with eight adult learning centers in the Chicago area. For more information about DeVry, visit http://www.devry.edu/ .

The Chicago Public Schools is the nation's third-largest school district and the second-largest employer in Illinois, with more than 45,000 employees. The school system operates 600 schools and serves 437,000 students.

CONTACT: Leah Martin of Jasculca-Terman and Associates for DeVry
University, +1-312-573-5491, or Eve Hyatt of Chicago Public Schools Office of
Communications, +1-773-553-1620, fax +1-773-553-1621

Web site: http://www.devry.edu/
http://www.cps.k12.il.us/

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