Over the past few years New Orleans" politics have lured software and technology business to the Crescent City. Although the job market has opened up for those seeking employment, most new employers are seeking employees with computer skills more demanding than checking email. Centaur Solutions, Inc. (CSI) is a software training and consulting corporation located in New Orleans, Louisiana. CSI is attempting to tap into the city's lack of technology professionals.
The owner/founder of CSI has been an instructor for the University of New Orleans" Metropolitan College for several years. During which time he has taught numerous New Orleans professionals with little or no computer skills, including seminars for local businesses. Beginning my research with locating the current market demand for CSI in New Orleans, I decided to gather information on the action this city plans to take. According to former mayor Marc Morial, "New Orleans may not be synonymous with the information technology driven new economy, but it will be by 2020." Technology companies have the freedom to set their roots wherever they choose, but research shows they"re looking for communities with plenty of amenities (NOWIB 2003). New Orleans is offering these industries a new home filled with affordable housing, unparalleled culture and history, and an energetic work force well equipped for the global economy (Hathaway 2001).
Although the colleges and universities within New Orleans produce a high volume of graduates, New Orleans has been exporting talents for the last 20 years, and thereby producing a brain drain because there are no real jobs to keep people in New Orleans. However the sudden interest in promoting new technology jobs has increased the demand for qualified employees. Now the balance has shifted with more jobs available and less qualified applicants. Searching the web for jobs in New Orleans, over 60% of all jobs required some type of computer literacy.
