IT Week staff

The latest Association of Graduate Recruiters report has rather mixed messages for the UK IT industry.

University leavers wanting to join a technology firm face a difficult situation, as IT vendors respond to the dark clouds hanging over the economy. Employers in the technology sector have slashed vacancy numbers, making it much harder for graduates to find a suitable post.

On the other hand, the number of graduate vacancies for IT professionals working across all industries is at a healthy level, indeed many employers are concerned that demand will soon outstrip supply and are predicting skills shortages. This is great news for those graduates wanting to enter the IT profession, but it might be less welcomed by IT chiefs who face stiffer competition when filling vacancies.

So what conclusions can be drawn from the report about the long-term health of the UK IT industry?

Much of the skills focus recently has been on the rise of offshoring creating less demand for UK IT professionals, while the number of young people pursuing IT education has also fallen. These two factors seem to be related: it is difficult to persuade young people to study for a career in IT if they doubt there will not be a job waiting for them once they have qualified.

The AGR findings paint a different picture, highlighting that IT graduates are still very much in demand. Hopefully this information will filter through to young people and boost interest in IT as a career.

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