300,000 jobs: facing the ICT skills shortage

300,000 jobs: facing the ICT skills shortage

“Europe’s capacity to recover after the financial and economic crisis will depend to a

considerable extent on the health and innovation capacity of the sector of ICT.”

“It is unacceptable that Europe lacks qualified ICT staff. If this shortage of computer scientists

and engineers is not addressed, it will eventually slow down the European economic growth and Europe runs the risk of falling behind its Asian

competitors”

EU statistics indicate that:• ICT represents over 5% of the EU’s GDP. • ICT contributes to a quarter of EU’s total growth.• ICT contributes to 4% of the EU’s jobs.• ICT accounts for 20% of economy-wide labour productivity growth.

The ICT skills shortage

• Europe will be short of 300,000 ICT-qualified staff by 2010.

(10,100 in Belgium; 18,300 in Poland, 2,800 in Italy, 4,300 in France, 41,800 in Spain and 87,800 in Germany, Europe's largest

economy.)

Who are our ICT workers?

•Only 57% of females in the EU are employed.

•Teenage girls are five times less likely to consider a technology-related career than teenage boys (despite using computers and the Internet at rates similar to their male peers)

Who aren’t they?

Facing the ICT skills shortage“We need to overcome common stereotypes which describe

ICT careers as boring and too technical for women, and instead encourage women to succeed in this exciting,

innovative and multi-faceted sector.”

“If we harness women’s skills more successfully this could result in an increase of 2% in GDP.”

What’s already happening?The proportion of female university graduates has increased in almost all areas in Europe. Worldwide, women currently earn 57% of bachelor’s degrees, 59% of master’s degrees and half of doctorates (The Economist)

BUT...in some countries such as Austria, Portugal and Poland, the number of female computer science graduates has significantly dropped from 1998 to 2005. This is also the trend in the US.

ICT skills shortage

What’s already happening?In the early 1990s, six women graduated from college for every five men. Projections show that by 2017, three women will graduate for every two men. (The Economist)

BUT...women are still chronically underrepresented at the decision-making level in major ICT companies and institutes. There is work to be done to attract women to take up a career, and to remain in the ICT sector.

ICT skills shortage

What can we do?Organisations such as the ECWT are working to remove the barriers that currently restrict girls and women from accessing and using ICTs.

ICT skills shortage

BUT...none of this means anything unless:1)Girls and women respond to our efforts2)We make these efforts

Some ideas…• We need to welcome and promote women in ICT• We need to encourage and support young people in ICT• We need to study and combat the forces driving women from ICT, as these factors might eventually drive men away.

DISCUSSION

Contact GridTalk• Request a copy of the next GridBriefing, or ask to be involved in its drafting• Ask for more information about Grids for Kids Days or Shadowing Days

www.gridtalk-project.eu/cristy.burne@gridtalk-project.eu

More information?