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IT has to have been the worst business to be in since 2000. Actually goes back a little further. HIB visas, outsource to India, IBM, Perot etc has made it a very dicey deal. No union, no govt interest in keeping these jobs here etc. Once high paying jobs - depending of course on the latest tech to come into play.
I applied for permanant long-term disability last week. I had been working in this biz since '70 - learned it in the USMC. I just can't do it any longer. Intricate Operating Systems type Programming has become (to me) very hard and very exhausting work. I have had some great jobs as a contractor for 18+ of those years. Last few years I worked for large Computer companies including my current and soon to be hopefully last employer - IBM.
I feel for you younger guys working now in this field. Way too much compitition for very quickly becoming lower paying jobs and shittier benefits. Last year I paid out 25K for health related deals between me and the wife. Thats with IBM's "excellent" insurance. Basically wiped out my rainy day fund.
I thought that years ago there should have been an union - too late now with globalization. Maybe there would not have been those constant 60 hour weeks, no real vacations, Sunday night stress etc. I figured a long time ago that hourly billing was the way to go - and it was until Mainframe work dried up in 2000. Then I had to work for Software companies and 60 hours turned out to be a short week! Talk about short-staffing on old software products that were not being sold much anymore - just real profitable(for the company) maintenance.

If I don't get my disability from IBM, I am screwed and will have to start seeking some short term contracts out anywhere in North America. I really cant handle more than a few months on and a few months off. I hear the being a mainframe Dinosaur could be a good thing these days.
Sorry for my mini-rant. But, I do feel for you younger guys these days in this business.