Backend code and frontend code are much different areas of expertise in today’s web. Look around, there is just as much of a need (if not more) for standards compliant frontend developers as there is for backend developers. No longer can we deal with shitty dreamweaver produced HTML, frontend is as important if not more important than anything else. Learning correct semantic web-standard xHTML / CSS / DOM is a big deal, and should have as much time spent on it as anything else.
Take a look at the jobs being posted. http://artypapers.com/jobpile/