Continuing a recent trend that has many business leaders worried, the Computing Research Association's annual survey of universities with Ph.D.-granting programs found a 20-percent drop this year in students completing bachelors degrees in professional IT fields.

The trend--which comes at a time when demand for computer-related skills is increasing, and thousands of baby boomers are retiring from technical jobs--has many business leaders concerned that they won't find enough workers to maintain expected growth.

"There's a bit of a perfect storm going on," said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology, a California-based consulting and staffing service. "I do think it's serious, and I do think we need to start at the elementary school level and get students talking about math and science."

Although a dearth of high-tech workers has been a problem before, the situation is now more dire because of soaring demand by a wide range of businesses--from tech companies such as Microsoft to insurance companies and local hospitals.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 854,000 professional IT jobs will be added between 2006 and 2016, an increase of about 24 percent. When replacement jobs are added in, total IT job openings in the 10-year period is estimated at 1.6 million.

The bureau estimates that one in 19 new jobs created during the 10-year period will be professional IT positions.

"The fact remains that technology permeates all businesses now," said Lou Gellos, a spokesman for Microsoft Corp. "All companies have that person down the hall to help with computer issues."

Amid the growing demand, the number of students entering computer sciences and computer engineering fields at major universities is dropping.

Enrollment in undergraduate degree programs in computer sciences is more than 50 percent lower than it was five years ago, the Computing Research Association says. Between 2005-06 and 2006-07, the number of new students declaring computer sciences as a major fell 43 percent, to 8,021.

"We're definitely concerned around the fact that there's a talent shortage," said Cindy Nicola, vice president of talent acquisition for Electronic Arts Inc., a Redwood City, Calif.-based maker of video games such as Madden NFL and The Sims.

In response to the problem, Nicola said the company has begun working more with colleges and universities to recruit graduates aggressively, offer internships, and help schools reshape their curricula so graduates are better able to step immediately into jobs at the business.

The company offers up to 400 hands-on internships per year, as well as perks such as fitness centers, on-campus coffee shops, dry cleaning, dental services, haircuts, massage therapists, and game rooms. As a video game maker, it also has the advantage of being in a field that is appealing to many young graduates.