IT skills shortage worsened by lack of graduate jobs

New research has suggested that a shortage of IT jobs for new graduates may be contributing to the industry's skills deficit.

IT Pro cites figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency that show one in ten computer graduates are unemployed.

It also references a survey from the Association of Technology Staffing Companies that found that pay rates for entry-level IT workers have been falling in recent years.

Commenting on the trend, Computeach Career Counsellor, Darren O'Connell, told the website that new graduates are put at a disadvantage by companies' preference for professionals with commercial experience.

However, David Bevan, InterQuest Communications Director, said many firms are still hiring entry-level recruits as the industry continues to experience a skills shortage. With the current economic downturn, 'fewer everything is being hired ... but IT is relatively safer than a number of other areas,' he added.

This follows a recent finding by CRAC: The Career Development Organisation that many undergraduates do not pursue a career in IT because they consider it to be 'boring,' even though most also believe it offers good job prospects.

According to a spokesperson from ClickAJob, employers are increasingly wary of employing 'raw' talent.

It's not just IT skills they're after, it's passion and commitment, he says.

Passion shows as enthusiasm for the job in whatever form it is, simply because it's IT, he points out. Your true geek loves IT work and it shows.

Commitment is harder, best demonstrated by go-getter applicants who actively flank their degree by going out and grabbing the right kind of work experience in the holidays or whenever.

Do that, and and employers take notice, he says.

It's always easier to bet on applicants who have shown they can bet on themselves.