By Tim Ferguson, 11 May 2007 14:52
NEWS
The increased use of offshore IT, ageism and the 'geeky' image of the technology industry are to blame for the lack of skilled UK tech staff, according to comments posted by silicon.com readers.
Our story on recommendations from UK tech industry forum the Information Age Partnership (IAP) on how to solve the skills crisis generated a big response from readers.
One reader said the truth is that there are far fewer IT jobs in the UK now partly because large numbers of jobs are being sent abroad, and grimly predicted: "Anyone thinking of entering this industry has to consider that they are likely to be made redundant in a few years as their job is likely to be transferred to India."
Another added outsourcing "continues to discourage new blood at the sharp end".
One reader said that what was needed were "decent employers who are willing to train graduates and offer some sort of job security", but went on to point out that there's not many of them around, as most think that "IT is an expense that takes money out of shareholders' pockets".
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The IAP outlined plans to address the UK's perceived IT skills shortage and to help the country remain competitive in the face of emerging rivals such as China.
The Delivering i2010 report focused on tackling the skills pipeline problem through cooperation of government, industry and academia to promote ICT.
But the image of IT in the UK was another factor hailed by readers as holding back training and recruitment.
Ian Paterson, a consultant, said: "IT has never been sexy but it needs a good dose of Viagra to get anyone's attention these days."
The issue of ageism concerned some with the recruitment problem being attributed to an unwillingness to recruit older worker with the right skills.
Reader Karen Challinor wrote in saying there's an unwillingness to hire older people, "who actually have more skills than the ones being sought".
Comments
There are 8 comments. Join the discussion
1. Alistair Simpson
The ageism is the factor thats made me decide to get out. And it starts at such a young age! With a first class computer science degree from a Russell-group university and 10+ years experience working for a blue-chip multinational computer company I thought I would be able to walk into any number of jobs, but after about 15 unsuccessful applications to other companies the penny is beginning to drop that at 36 I am considered "too old". I feel like I've just got started in this career and already they want to replace me with a twenty-something! I am now studying to become an actuary and intend to leave the computer industry before its too late. As a career technology is a dead loss, job security is poor and you cant depend on it for your livelihood.
2. Brian Hughes
As an "over the hill" IT worker of 25 years experience and only at the tender age of 56, I can confirm that ageism is a BIG problem. I was a contracter for the last 8 years and I am now a Driving Insturctor due the complete lack of any interest in my 25 years of skill. I have been told that I am too qualified, they are looking for a younger person etc. I am sure many of yoiu out there have heard the stories.
3. Mark Hosey
The real skills shortage does not lie in IT or indeed in any of the other technical skills. The real shortage is in business management, merchant banking and law. After all, that’s where the real money and status appear to be. That and of course those in the entertainment industry.
Surely, to use the economists own argument, it’s a case of supply and demand.
If you have a global market for say IT workers, research scientists and development engineers and there is a glut of those educated in those skills then surely supply and demand dictates that these working classes cannot ever hope to negotiate a higher wage or command higher status. When they attempt to do so the employers look to (cheaper) pastures new to fill the vacancies and if that means outsourcing or moving the whole operation to a country with cheaper labour then so be it. After all, employers do not owe their employees or society any loyalty (though for some reason they expect loyalty from their employees and society).
On the other hand we have the obvious high wages and status of those in business management, merchant banking and law. Again, there is a global market in these skills but because demand out strips supply they continue to command high wages and status. Some would of course say that it is the “responsibility” that goes with the job but that’s a fallacious argument otherwise bus drivers, train drivers and pilots would all be millionaires (a bus driver is responsible for, on average, 500,000 lives annually).
So my advice to all school leavers is, “If you can’t get a job as a football star, pop singer or super model, pursue a career business management, merchant banking or law. That’s where the money is!”.
4. Jeremy Robinson
I agree that ageism is a major factor. But is there really a shortage of staff in the UK?
My US company gave voluntary redundancy to 1,000 staff last year. Many found jobs or retired early, but anecdotal evidence says that age is a major limiting factor in getting even considered for a job, unless you know someone.
With all the security failures, maybe experienced staff could bridge the gap to users from techies.
5. Malcolm Wilson
Brian Hughes is so right. I'm in the creative side of IT usage and ageism is just a prevalent there. I'm 57, have 30 years experience in my field and nobody wants to know. I hear the usual comments:' over-qualified', 'too much spec for the job', 'unsuitable', 'salary requirements likely to be too high' etc, etc. It would be nice to get the chance to reply to those comments.
Let's face it people, the accountants run the businesses these days and all they want are fresh graduates who are cheap, cheap, cheap... and the recruitment agencies pander to that attitude in pursuit of their commission.
6. Andrew Meredith
As a chartered engineer with nearly 20 years in the IT industry, I wonder if the problem isn't one of lack of any formal standard for the recognition of particular IT skills.
In other disciplines, accountancy for example, you take a paper in a particular skill and get a certificate. You get membership of institutes that allows you to do certain jobs.
I wonder if, paradoxically, restricting the supply might just encourage the industries that use IT skills to value the people they already have and look to find people who have proven skills, rather than just claimed skills.
7. anonymous
I agree with most of what's been said about ageism, but I'be been lucky and in the last 11 years I've always been able to find someone who knows me and wants me. I've found it pretty well impossible even to get considered by people who don't know me from before. A string of professional qualifications and 40 years of experience don't help.
From the other side of the fence (recruiting) I'm not worried about people being young enough, or about having experience of the right 10 tiny technologies or trivial applications or programming languages, but about ability to understand requirements, relate requirements to some sort of structured solution, and learn the technologies needed to implement that structure - the things that any good engineer does at any age and in any engineering discipline. But most recruitment agencies are into "tick the box for experience in XYZ", and the things I've just mentioned in are not even considered.
Tom
8. anonymous
It has nothing to do with shortage of workers. Money is the bottom line. Although I can see cost savings in lower wages, reduced or non-existant employee benefits or healthcare, etc I believe the real driver is lack of governance and oversight oversees. I will laugh hysterically when I see security and audit go over. So they can line their big fat Enron type wallets as they have done for years with no scrutiny. It has nothing to do with shareholders or integrity. They have big parachutes and can drive the companies and shareholders into the ground and if there is question about controls overseas they will lie about it. Try to prove it. If they hired anyone to investigate it will be a 20 year old untrained auditor who wants to look like they know what they are doing and then its another gold star pass with flying colors regardless of what is really happening.
WAKE UP.