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IT recruitment - October 2009
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09/10/2009
It is cold comfort now, but it appears that the IT sector was on the verge of a boom before the financial crisis struck. According to Forrester, it was only the recession that put paid to what would have been a period of rapid expansion. Of course, there is no point in businesses spending time thinking about what might have been if things had turned out differently. Likewise, IT professionals will do themselves few favours by fantasising about the vast number of job opportunities which might have come their way under such circumstances. Instead, it is time to get on with picking up the pieces.
Fortunately for those working in IT, it seems that the sector is set to form an even more important part of the economic jigsaw when it is reassembled. In fact, a study by the British Computer Society (BCS) has revealed that 54 per cent of chief information officers are positive about IT's prospects during 2010. However, with 65 per cent of respondents wanting to see more investment in IT skills, it is clear the sector cannot stand still if it is to achieve its full potential. As David Clarke, chief executive officer at BCS, explained failing to ensure the UK has a strong IT sector will impact on the economy as a whole.
He said: "Investment in IT education and skills is essential if we are to turn a nascent economic recovery into a long-term competitive advantage. Our ability to process, share and manage information will determine the success of our society."
Mr Clarke also warned that the sector is facing a skills shortage, suggesting that talented individuals should be able to set themselves apart in the IT jobs market. However, it is not only workers who could be set to gain from this period of transition. According to the BCS, one of the biggest threats to the UK's competitiveness is a lack of clear career paths for IT professionals. It seems likely that firms which have taken the time to tackle this issue should be able to lure the talent they need from their competitors.
Despite this, the latest Ashdown Group Job Index suggests that firms are hardly falling over themselves to snap up eager individuals. It found that the number of IT jobs on offer fell by 2.39 per cent between during September, reversing the increase seen in August. John Lynes, director of the Ashdown Group, believes that any increase in demand for IT staff will start gradually.
"The initial spike of vacancies seen in August may have been a reaction to businesses choosing to lift headcount freezes and we are now seeing a return to normal levels," he said.
Any reticence to recruit new staff could backfire if firms get left behind in a swift moving market place. A new study by Fujitsu Technology Solutions has suggested that cautious CIOs could hinder their businesses' progress. It found that just one in ten respondents saw themselves as aggressive early adopters when it comes to new systems. Paul Parrish, UK managing director of the firm, called on them to think again.
He said: "Forward-thinking businesses will find new ways to gain a lead over their competitors and move on relatively unscathed. Those that are able to harness the power of IT in the coming months will be fitter and leaner for the upturn when it inevitably comes."
So perhaps now is the time for employers to do their bit for the economy and invest in the systems and talent they need to thrive.
Posted by Jon Aspinell.
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