Employers must encourage IT skills

Employers must work harder to encourage young people into the IT industry in order to plug the huge skills gap, a report has revealed.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) research paper, entitled Skills Shortages in the ICT Workplace, claims that employers are being too picky when choosing candidates, hoping for the perfect person, rather than selecting a graduate with potential.

However, Jeff Brooks, chair of REC Technology said that education is also to blame for making the sector appear to be uninspiring, dull and unchallenging.

"Educators, employers, recruiters and the government really need to get to grips with the whole issue to find practical solutions that will influence and inspire young people to consider a career in IT," he said.

Mr Brooks suggested that recruitment agencies and employers work with schools and universities to improve IT skills and encourage people into the sector.

The study comes at the same time as a new report today by the British Chambers of Commerce which claimed the majority of businesses find it hard to recruit the right staff.

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Posted by Nikki Barrister and John Oak

Filed: 17-10-2011