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IT skills gap set to grow

UK workers believe the skills gap is likely to get worse rather than better.

By Maggie Holland, 18 Dec 2008 at 13:54

We haven’t seen anything yet in terms of how the shortage of skilled IT workers in the UK is affecting businesses.

So says almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of respondents polled in a survey by the IT Job Board, who believe that the gap will continue to get bigger year on year.

The biggest blame factors cited are a clear lack of professionals available and the dynamic and fast moving nature of the IT industry.

Offshore outsourcing is seen as the solution to the problem by 44.5 per cent of survey respondents, while 70 per cent believe that better workplace training would help.

“The IT sector is a rapidly evolving one, and it is down to employers to invest in their staff, both via systems and training, to ensure they stay up-to-speed with the changes,” said Alex Farrell, managing director of The IT Job Board, in a statement.

“If the UK is to stay ahead, it needs to attract high quality staff both nationally and internationally. And, it needs to tackle the ever-growing skills gap.”

If it makes UK plc feel any better about things, the majority (88 per cent) of those surveyed agreed that the skills gap is not just confined to our shores.