According to an IDC report, the demand for employees with education in advanced network technologies in Poland will rise to 28,000 in 2008. At the same time, the number of IT professionals with qualifications in the area of network technologies will be at the level of 23,000 people. This forecast predicts a shortage of over 16% of network specialists on the Polish labor market in 2008. Over the next 3 years, experts in wireless networks will be the most sought-after in Poland. The report was created based on a study commissioned by Cisco Systems, which covered 31 countries in Eastern and Western Europe, including Poland.
In 2008, there may be a shortage of up to half a million employees across Europe educated in advanced network technologies, which are necessary for the development of the European economy. This number means that in 2008, the percentage shortage of such employees will average 15.8%. In one-third of the 31 countries surveyed, the demand for employees with network qualifications will exceed supply by more than 20%, and the greatest shortages will be felt in Eastern European countries, especially those not belonging to the EU.
This situation may cause serious problems in enterprises, delay the implementation of advanced technologies, weaken competitiveness, and hinder economic growth across the continent. The report also lists such threats as the weakening of Europe’s competitive position in global markets and difficulties in achieving the goals of the European Commission. If one takes into account the development of advanced network technologies at a rate of 18% per year until 2008 as forecast by IDC, as well as EU plans to increase competitiveness through the implementation of ICT technologies, the shortages may turn out to be much larger.
Countries where the projected shortage of qualifications in the field of advanced technologies in 2008 will be smaller, however, have no reason for complacency. For example, for the United Kingdom, the percentage shortage rate in 2008 is 9.3%, which means a lack of about 40,000 employees qualified in network technologies. On the other hand, Ukraine, the country with the largest percentage shortage (33.5%) projected for 2008, will need a smaller number of such people, only 28,000.
The weight of the problem grows even more if one takes into account that 60% of surveyed enterprises and institutions use networks to support business processes and communication with customers, partners, and suppliers, and according to 80% of respondents, the importance of networks will continue to grow.
More than 50% of companies declare an increasing demand for IT professionals with versatile qualifications who also possess business skills. This confirms the view that these skills are increasingly needed when making investment decisions regarding network technologies. Among the reasons for the shortage of qualified employees, one should mention the widespread implementation of advanced technologies, the rapid development of e-business, and an insufficient number of training programs across Europe.
The report Networking Skills in Europe: Will the Growing Shortage of Skilled Labor Reduce Competitiveness in the Global Market? includes not only an analysis of supply and demand but also a forecast of the demand for general qualifications in network technologies and certifications in this field. The studies that served to prepare it also concern past and future employment trends. The most important conclusions from these studies are presented below.
- 70% of enterprises believe that the importance of qualifications in network security will increase in the future, 69% – in wireless networks, and 57% – in IP telephony. These indicators vary slightly depending on the region and the size of the enterprise.
- In public sector institutions, the use of networks is less advanced (57%), and among telecommunications service providers – it is the most advanced (87%).
- 72% of European enterprises and institutions consider certificates confirming skills to be important, especially during recruitment. This applies in particular to the public sector.
- One-third of respondents hired new employees over the past 12 months; half of them stated that finding people with the appropriate qualifications was difficult.
Overall, the survey showed that the qualifications of IT professionals sought by enterprises and institutions in Western and Eastern Europe are changing. This results not only from the increasingly strong and clear links between business and ICT but also from the convergence of networks with other IT technologies.