Search Consultancy highlights current skills shortage within the IT industry

Scotland is again experiencing skills shortages in IT which could hold back company growth, according to Search Consultancy. Scotlandís fastest growing recruitment specialists are also predicting that this situation will worsen in 2006.



An overall decline in the number of IT graduates is partly to blame but Search believes this is not the crux of the difficulties. Gareth Biggerstaff, Senior Divisional Manager IT, explains that the heart of the problem lies more in the typical profile of those IT practitioners currently available.

ìThe root of the skills shortage comes from a lack of ëbusiness mindedí IT expertsî says Gareth. ìIt used to be enough for IT specialists to be technically accomplished but now employers are looking for all-rounders who also have good business knowledge.

ìThis new type of resourceful IT specialist is so sought after due to an ever increasing amount of companies outsourcing their IT support. For applicants to make an impact, they have to be able to fit in with the host companyís business environment and offer the company more than just IT knowledge.î

Gareth adds, ìUnfortunately thereís no quick fix to a problem like this. The good news for strong candidates is that they are in demand, and Search consultants work hard to make sure we identify and exploit the full skills profile of all our candidates to get the best fit for clients

ìOur advice to IT workers though is to grab every opportunity to get a broader grounding in business as this really improves their marketability. The people in increasing demand will be those who can understand business strategy as a context for the IT support they have been trained to give.î

Issued by the BIG partnership on behalf of Search Consultancy