Look ahead
Bridging the IT skills gap Graham Smith explains how changes in education can meet the increased demand for IT skills. Today, more than 1.5 million people work in the digital sector or in roles related to digital technology, and the number of digital technology jobs across the UK is growing at twice the rate of other jobs. But are we properly prepared for the future? Today’s young people and students are digital natives, surrounded by technology since birth. That said, this familiarity doesn’t necessarily mean that they possess an in-depth understanding of IT and computing, or how to use it within a business setting. In fact, when it comes to calculating how many people receive a formal technical education, the UK’s students are placed 16th out of 20 across developed economies. Britain’s IT skills gap is no secret. According to a survey from the British Chambers of Commerce, firms are finding it harder than ever to recruit skilled workers — almost threequarters of service providers are struggling to make the hires they need. According to reports, skills shortages reached a critical level in the last quarter of 2017, with a record number of firms reporting recruitment difficulties. So how can today’s young people transition from being digital natives to being digital workers? In 2015, only 15,000 British students sat an A-Level in computing or ICT. This accounts for less than two percent of the overall exams set. As a result, there are only a small handful of school leavers moving on to higher education study in this
field. What’s more, despite multiple schemes and initiatives to increase this figure, the number only grew by around 500 students in 2016. Competition to find the right candidates is particularly high for roles that require niche skillsets. Specialists in Microsoft Azure, for example, are feeling the benefit of having some of the most in-demand skills in the industry. As the central pillar of all Microsoft projects, there is an evident skills gap in this area, and because of this, specialists can charge a premium. But how many school-aged students have ever heard of Microsoft Azure, let alone are enthused enough to pursue this specialism after higher education? One of the criticisms of the IT industry is that the sector isn’t attractive to young people. According to a Mondelez International survey of more than 1,500 teenagers, 44 per cent believed that Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – the STEM subjects – were uninteresting. What’s more, almost half of the participants considered STEM subjects to be less enjoyable than other subject areas. There have been several initiatives to improve the perception of IT in schools, such as Microsoft Education. This scheme encourages the digital transformation of schools by promoting the use of technology in every aspect of education, not just for lessons in IT and computing. The goal is to ensure that every student leaves the education system with
Autumn 2018
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