Technology industry fears a skills shortage could stunt its growth
According to a new ONS report, the technology industry fears that a skills shortage could stunt its growth. The number of unfilled positions in the information and communication technology sector last quarter rose by 24.3 per cent compared with a year ago, according to data from the Office for National Statistics, one of the largest increases of any industry.
“A shortage of people working in digital and tech jobs has the potential to derail our journey towards a prosperous digital future. To sustain the competitiveness of the technology sector and to ensure its driving forward the UK economy, we need to bring in a wide array of people from different backgrounds and with distinct ways of thinking.
“Developing technical skills, whether that’s studying computer science or learning new coding languages, can open the door to all kinds of careers, from design to technology marketing to managing a business division. Yet too often there’s a flawed perception that some groups, such as women or BAME individuals, don’t belong in STEM professions. This has contributed to the enduring shortage of technically skilled people who can embrace new technology and figure out where it can help solve the most difficult problems in business, the economy, and society as a whole.
“As we fast progress towards a ‘digital first’ nation we need to ensure we are investing in all talent at the very beginning of the digital journey and developing the right skills to support the future digital economy. At the end of the day, it is only by engaging a diverse array of people in tech that we can hope to protect the future competitiveness of the UK economy.”
Sarah Kaiser, Employee Experience, Diversity and Inclusion Lead for Fujitsu EMEIA
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