IT Staffing Report: July 11, 2013

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IT graduates in short supply in UK

Businesses in the U.K. are struggling to find the right graduate talent to fill their information technology and computing roles, according to research commissioned by totaljobs.com. The research revealed that 34 percent of employers claimed the skills gap was most acute in technical ability, with positions in production and finance also among the hardest to fill. 

“There has been a great deal of growth in graduate IT and computing jobs, something that is definitely set to continue,” said Mike Fetters, graduate director at totaljobs.com. “However, it is a concern that business says that there are not enough graduates with the appropriate skills and experience to fill these roles. What’s interesting is the increase in apprenticeship hires. There is definitely still a need for degree-level hires, but companies are increasingly understanding the value of taking on an apprentice as an effective way to address their skills shortages and foster a new generation of IT and business experts,”

The findings come on the back of research from totaljobs.com earlier this year that 48 percent of employers reported a shift away from graduate recruitment towards apprenticeships. The strategy is a result of employers responding to the challenge they face in finding the right skills necessary for entry level positions.

The current research found that 57 percent of firms are struggling to fill vacancies while 27 percent said apprenticeships are crucial to addressing the deficit in skills. Furthermore, 25 percent want to see business skills embedded within school education; and 18 percent called for degrees more appropriate for the world of work.