Sure, the skills are critical. But the tech industry is dysfunctional right now, and there are no signs of reform on the horizon. Anyone attempting to break into the industry is going to find it extremely difficult to get started without experience, as companies don't want to hire entry-level candidates anymore.

Even though there may be lots of high-pay, high-skill job openings, there is a dearth of true entry-level positions in IT that don't require existing work experience and advanced skills.