Education deficit sends Microsoft out of Washington for talent

Microsoft Corp. has 2,000 jobs to fill in Washington. If past hiring form holds, only 160 will be filled by workers holding diplomas earned at in-state institutions.

Bert Caldwell
Staff writer Spokesman Review

Chief Executive Steve Ballmer last week said Microsoft cannot find the qualified employees it needs among the thousands of students graduated each year by Washington schools. Of the 25,000-odd company employees in Washington, just 8 percent were educated in the state.

More and more, he told an Eastern Washington University breakfast gathering in Seattle, Microsoft looks to India and China for workers.

“Taxpayers in the state need to come to grips with the notion that we need to invest in higher education," Ballmer said.

So, where are we headed? Backwards. And support for EWU is indicative of the trend.

The budget under consideration in the legislature would roll back next year’s funding for the Cheney school to $40.7 million from $43.9 million this year. And this despite an enrollment almost 700 over that used to set appropriations.

Meanwhile, EWU officials hold their breath as lawmakers determine what projects to include in this year’s capital spending budget. A $22.4 million appropriation for the School of Computing and Engineering Sciences would double the capacity of the university’s computer science programs — the kind that can prepare future Microsoft employees.

EWU President Steve Jordan said the university has made the commitment to line up $5 million for equipping the building. With two sizeable pledges already in hand, he is confident the funds can be nailed down fairly easily once the state funds construction.

EWU also awaits legislative action on a bill that would allow the school to offer an electrical engineering degree to complement its computing instruction. Now, electrical engineering degrees can be earned only at the University of Washington and Washington State University.

If approved by the Legislature and Higher Education Coordinating Board, Jordan said, the program would be developed at North Seattle Community College, then transplanted to permanent quarters in Cheney.

Federal money has already helped launch a cyber security program. In January, $510,000 was added to $1 million appropriated last year that allowed EWU to hire a computer security expert. Jordan said Microsoft helped out by sponsoring the new hire at its headquarters for several months. He is back on campus.

Those appropriations are part of a $5 million, multiyear plan for equipment, and curriculum and laboratory development.

Jordan said EWU officials are working on another sponsorship with IBM.

It’s time the state stepped up. If Microsoft cannot hire locally, the entire Washington software industry suffers.

Katerina Bonde is the chief executive officer of Bellevue-based UniSite Software and vice chairwoman of WSA, formerly the Washington Software Alliance.

She said software engineers attracted from out of state have been leaving because of the dot-com bust. Small companies like UniSite need experienced and highly skilled software engineers, but have difficulty retaining those who have no roots in Washington.

“Where are we in two years from now if we can’t keep these people in the Northwest," Bonde asked.

We can keep them here if they are from here. Microsoft can attract and retain people from anywhere. About 70 EWU graduates have met the company’s high standards, including Brian Valentine, the senior vice president for the company’s Windows division.

Valentine said the company will hire more — if they have the skills. The School of Computing and Engineering Sciences would be a critical resource.

Business columnist Bert Caldwell can be reached at (509) 459-5450 or by e-mail at [email protected].

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