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Addressing the IT Skills Gap: Insights and Challenges for the Workforce

In this exploration of the IT skills gap, I aim to provide context and stimulate discussion rather than advocate for a specific agenda. Drawing on the e-skills UK's Technology Insights report, I analyze the current state of the workforce, the aging profession, and gender issues in IT. We will discuss the "Contractor Paradox," the difficulties graduates face in finding suitable employment, and the value of placements. This piece aims to challenge perceptions and foster a deeper understanding of the changing landscape in IT education and employment.

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Addressing the IT Skills Gap: Insights and Challenges for the Workforce

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Presentation Transcript

  1. The IT Skills Gap Andrew Tuson Centre for Information Leadership

  2. What I’ll be covering… • Not here to advocate a particular agenda/body. • Aim is to set the debate in context and stimulate discussion. • I draw heavily on outside research, particularly e-skills UK’s (excellent) Technology Insights report. • Need to make up your own mind what this means for you.

  3. What does the workforce look like?

  4. The flow of jobs…

  5. The profession is aging…

  6. More graduates for now (from HEPI)

  7. Gender Issues

  8. Where is the growth…?

  9. Where should we up-skill (Table 19)?

  10. Put another way…

  11. The ‘Contractor Paradox’ • On forums this question often comes up. • If there’s a need for IT skills, why can’t I find work? (Usually as a contractor) • Possible response: the IT industry is one in constant flux and transformation. • Effect of ‘creative destruction’? • Do we equip our workforce for the long term? • Are professionals trying to commoditize employers (and vice versa)?

  12. Schools • An issue with IT in schools (Ofsted 2009): • “...many students were following qualifications of doubtful value.” • “Students were spending considerable time demonstrating proficiency in what they could already do..., rather than being introduced to new and more challenging material and skills.” • Does problem lie in what teachers are required to teach and league tables? • Confusion between ‘use of IT’ and ‘IT as profession’

  13. HE: prospects.ac.uk (1) • Prospects is the careers site for graduates. • Unemployment for CS/IT graduates (after six months) is worse than national average (7.9%) • What about those employed? Source: Prospects/HESA

  14. HE: prospects.ac.uk (2) • Less than half enter the IT profession! • Some hidden in other categories? • Some are not employed in ‘graduate’ positions! • Over 10% in retail, catering, waiting and bar staff (reflects all-subject average). • This is six months after graduation, improves later on… • But students’ expectations are within that timeframe. Source: Prospects/HESA

  15. HE: Degree Employability? • My ‘quick & dirty’ analysis • Grades account for 59% of variation. The rest? A point for debate… • Placements help – strong evidence for this! • Links with industry • Differences in coverage • Local IT employment markets • Social capital? Source: HESA/Independent

  16. Some parting thoughts/questions… • Schools/HE only a part of the picture? • Macro level vs Micro level? • Dangers of ‘tick-box’ training? • Certifications – evidence they add value? • Civil society/state/market failure? • Is academic education the enduring skill? • More at andrewtuson.blogspot.com

  17. Key Sources • Much of the data was taken from the e-Skills ‘Technology Insights’ report series. • www.e-skills.com • Other useful sources are: • www.prospects.ac.uk • www. jobstats.co.uk • www.uvac.ac.uk • www.bcs.org/careers/

  18. Further Reading • Wolf, A. (2002). Does Education Matter? Myths About Education And Economic Growth, London: Penguin Press. • Wolf, A. (2009). An Adult Approach to Further Education, London: IEA. • Leitch, S. (2006). Prosperity for all in the global economy - world class skills: Final Report of the Leitch Review of Skills. London: HM Treasury. • Brown, P. and Hesketh, A. (2004). The Mismanagement of Talent: Employability and Jobs in the Knowledge Economy. Oxford: OUP. • Knight, P., and Yorke, M. (2004). Learning, Curriculum and Employability in Higher Education, London: RoutledgeFalmer. • Morley, L., Eraut, M., Aynsley, S., McDonald, D., and Shepard, J. (2006). Needs of employers and related organisations for information about quality and standards of higher education. Bristol: Higher Education Funding Council for England.

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