IT and Telecoms Insights 2008

Technology Counts England

e-skills UK's 'Technology Counts England: IT & Telecoms Insights 2008' provides a unique view of the key trends, opportunities and challenges facing England over the next ten years, and their implications for skills. This research publication offers analysis of labour market intelligence specific to England, and provides an in depth understanding of the existing English IT and Telecoms landscape, with forecasts of the future based on the best available global intelligence.

Action in England is guided by our strategic plan, which is based on the findings of this research. e-skills UK’s work in England includes Computer Clubs for Girls (CC4G) and the Business IT Guide to help small businesses.

For a copy of the report and a summary of the key findings, please see below.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

Technology Counts England: IT and Telecoms Insights 2008 (e-skills UK) (PDF - 8MB)

KEY FINDINGS

Growth in IT and Telecoms in England is expected to continue

• The continued adoption and exploitation of ICT could generate an additional £30 billion of GVA to England’s economy over the next five to seven years.
• 5% of people (1.3 million people) employed in England work in the IT and Telecoms workforce.
• The number of people employed in the IT professional workforce in England has grown by 76% per cent since the early 1990s.
• Employment in the IT industry in England is predicted to grow five times faster than the average employment growth of England.
• 125,300 jobs each year need to be filled by new entrants moving into IT and Telecoms professional roles in England.
  
• IT and Telecoms professionals in England earn 61% more than the average income across England.

Employers in England report skills gaps

• Across all sectors in England, of those employers reporting skills gaps, over a third (35 per cent) of the workforce does not have the IT user skills the employer needs.
• Employers in England reporting gaps in IT user skills say this affects 34% of their managers. Moreover, across the UK, 60% of employers reporting skills gaps stated that these were having an impact on their business.

The IT and Telecoms professional workforce is getting older

• 44 per cent of IT and Telecoms professionals in England are now aged 40+, compared to 32 per cent six years ago.
• When recruiting into IT and Telecoms professional roles, employers in England have a preference for hiring experienced staff. Where recruiting directly from education, the preference is for graduate level and above.

Gender balance remains an issue in the sector

• Male IT and Telecoms professionals in England outnumber females by 4:1, with females making up just 19 per cent of this workforce. 
  

Last modified: 16 Apr 2009