Techies believe skills gap is still growing

Survey reveals IT sector is lacking skilled professionals, despite unemployment being on the increase

Despite suffering a spate of redundancies and layoffs recently, the UK’s IT sector is still lacking skilled professionals, according to a survey conducted by the IT Job Board.

The research revealed that nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of respondents believe the UK’s IT skills gap will continue to grow, a view they put down to a lack of professionals and changes within the IT sector.

Forty-four and a half per cent believe companies can cover the shortage by outsourcing work overseas and 70 per cent feel better training in the workplace would help.

Alex Farrell, managing director of The IT Job Board, said: “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.

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

A recent report from market watcher KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) revealed more doom and gloom for the job market.