ICT skills are vital for growth
An IDC research report published last December argued that European organisations must invest in training their staff in emerging ‘smart’ IT technologies. This is even more important if Irish businesses are to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the’ knowledge economy’.
The study, entitled Post Crisis: e-Skills are Needed to Drive Europe’s Innovation Society and commissioned by Microsoft, investigated whether workers would need ICT skills to participate in the job market. It found that, within five years, 90 per cent of all jobs – across all industry sectors and EU countries – would require up to date ICT skills, as companies required staff to make use of technology in their day-to-day job roles.
The research, which surveyed 1,370 employers across 13 EU countries, found that the increased demand for ICT skillsets was not solely a response to the current economic crisis. Instead, long-term technology change, with the introduction of new smart technologies and the evolution towards a more knowledge-based economy, would be a stronger influence on training and hiring policies.
Therefore the report predicted that training for advanced ICT skills would grow significantly over the next three to five years.
This means that Irish organisations must upskill their staff – within and outside their IT departments – in’ smart’ IT areas if they wish to be competitive, according to Steven Purcell, country manager with Global Knowledge.
“In the last year, a lot of companies, like everyone in the economy, sat on their budgets and did not spend money on anything – either new technologies or training,” said Purcell.” Companies are now beginning to look at how they can get the best out of their staff and their systems.”
Catherine O’Keefe, training manager with PFH, said that training partners could help companies to guarantee that limited training budgets were well spent.
“Many companies need advice on maximising their training budgets,” said O’Keefe.” Where companies invest in upskilling staff in new technologies, it produces higher levels of job satisfaction, productivity and cost effectiveness.”
Higher-value jobs December’s IDC report found that certification would be crucial for ICT professionals and would increase in importance in the future. Purcell said that IT professionals’ interest in demonstrating skills and experience by gaining formal qualifications in particular technologies was growing.
“We have seen a huge increase in the people sitting courses and taking exams, an increase in people who are looking to get certified,” he said.” This includes people who are currently employed and unemployed.”
Gough said that IT professionals and managers were general ly aware that smarter skills would be required if they were to either progress their careers or make their companies more efficient and productive.
“Technology professionals are acutely aware of the fast-paced nature of the industry and look for opportunities to ensure their skillset is current and sophisticated,” she said.
“When hiring at the moment, managers are assessing the skills coming on board and how that will contribute to the business in the longer term.”
Burke said that IT professionals with skills and experience in emerging smart technologies were generally able to command good salaries, as companies knew how valuable they would be in the medium-term.
“IT professionals with the latest skills will always be in demand and are paid at the upper end of the mark,” he said.” These people can be expensive for companies to hire, but the price of getting high skilled employees on board is nothing compared to the price of lagging behind your competitors and losing market share.”
