Hyve
Managed Hosting announced its new
IT and Tech Skills Gap Report 2024, which paints a bleak picture regarding the
supply of skilled IT and tech professionals in the UK. A staggering 4 out of 5
UK businesses are currently struggling to source the talent they need to
address today's IT challenges. This presents a number of profoundly negative
impacts across sectors to the workforce.
The report, conducted in collaboration with Censuswide,
surveyed 500 UK business and IT decision makers and outlines in depth the key
perspectives, challenges and solutions to an issue that has pervaded the tech
industry for some time.
Key causes of the skills gap
According to research, the majority of decision makers
surveyed cited the skills gap as one of the biggest challenges to the success
of their business, together with ongoing economic uncertainty and keeping pace
with competition and technological advances. The latter is what 42% of UK
business and IT leaders attribute the skills shortage to. Right now,
technological evolution is outpacing the current speed of training and
development of new talent, which leaves businesses vulnerable and exposed:
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31% of respondents feel academic institutions are not
keeping up with industry progress, resulting in a shortage of qualified
candidates coming out of school or university and into the workforce
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A further 30% claimed a lack of training in schools is
not adequately preparing individuals for entry-level roles, calling into
question current curriculum
Private sector companies also have a hand in the current
state of play regarding skills and development. Over a third of the respondents
(35%) believe the competition created by larger companies exacerbates the
skills shortage, as tech giants draw many skilled professionals from the
market. 27% believe the high cost of hiring talent is widening the chasm.
Cybersecurity and cloud computing are the most in-demand
IT skills
When it comes to the most sought-after skills,
cybersecurity (43%) and cloud computing (34%) top the list, followed by:
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Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI):
33%
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Developers: 26%
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Data (e.g. analysis/visualisation): 25%
However, some UK business leaders admitted to often
struggling to identify the specific skills they should be looking for when
recruiting tech talent. 52% said they often settle for less qualified
professionals due to a lack of suitable candidates.
Bridging the IT and tech skills gap and the role of MSPs
The most common approach to addressing the IT and tech
skills gap is to invest in the training and development of in-house talent
(including reskilling and upskilling), as well as improving recruitment
processes and partnering with suppliers or managed service providers.
Almost two-thirds (65%) of business leaders surveyed said
they currently work with an MSP. Of those companies that work with an MSP, a
further 90% confirmed they do so to address the issues created by the IT and
tech skills gap. A third (33%) stated they rely heavily on the expertise of
their MSP to manage IT and tech processes.
"As we prepare for a data-driven future, there is
clearly a growing divide between the technology skills employers need and the
skills they actually have access to," said Charlotte Webb,
Operations Director at Hyve Managed Hosting. "Our report highlights just how
complex a strategy is required to address today's skills gap - one that
increases collaboration between business, government and educational
institutions to promote STEM subjects and the importance of IT skills across
the modern working landscape."
"MSPs have
an important role to play in that strategy - helping businesses to bridge the
skills gap, focus on their goals, and smartly reappropriate resources," continued Webb. "At Hyve,
we recognise the significance of the expertise we offer customers in the face
of the issues outlined in this report and are committed to helping businesses
unlock resources, talent and skills for long-term competitiveness and success."
For more information about the IT and Tech Skills Gap
Report 2024, please visit: here.