Skills Gap in IT in UK – 134,000 new digital specialists needed every year

Its research found that the UK needs 134,000 new digital specialists every year with about half of these being in junior level roles. However, two out of five recruiters said they struggle to fill these roles and 85 per cent of employers say the problem is down to skills shortages.

This mismatch between supply and demand shows no signs of abating as the analysis showed that there are now 1.3 million people in the UK who work as tech specialists, which is an increase of 6 per cent in 2014 alone.

As the competition for talent is expected to heat up further, the Tech Partnership has urged more employers to embrace tech apprenticeships as a value for money solution.

And the data shows that many employers have already recognised how vocational training can offer a competitive advantage in the battle for faster business growth. This year, businesses said that they are twice as likely to offer a tech apprenticeship than in previous years.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at Why more employers should embrace digital apprenticeships – People Management Magazine Online.