Outsourcing by American companies is a trend that has shown no signs of letting up in recent years. With many countries abroad offering well-educated, skilled workers who are willing to work for a fraction of their US counterparts, more and more American companies are going to look to outsourcing as a way to compete in todays global marketplace.

And it’s not just telemarketing and customer service jobs that are being outsourced to countries like India and China. It’s also happening to engineers, bankers, consultants, lawyers, accountants, and a range of other professional occupations.

The offshore trend is hitting especially hard in the software and information technology (IT) industries. In many of these occupations, workers don’t deal directly with customers or clients – the work and customer communication is handled via fax machines, modums, and DSL connections. And the fact that most workers in countries like India speak fluent English only makes it easier for them to integrate into US companies.

So what does all this mean for professionals and employees in today’s global economy?

It means that traditional job security--in many industries at least--is a thing of the past. And with countries like Mexico and Indonesia getting into the act, this trend will only continue in the years to come.

But the news concerning global outsourcing isn’t all bad. Workers in countries outside the US are seeing their incomes rise by 30 or 40 percent per year, which eventually makes outsourcing less attractive. And ironically, the cost advantages realized by many American companies who outsource stimulates the US economy, creating new jobs here at home.

And occupations that are at the heart of the "knowledge economy" here in the US are unlikely to be shipped overseas, at least in the near future. There are jobs that require close interaction with customers or clients, and have a high degree of complexity, creativity, and intellectual content.

So don’t panic just yet. But be aware of the trend in offshore outsourcing, and plan accordingly (especially if you’re considering a career in IT or software design).