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Experts Warn of ICT Labour Shortage and Loss of Competitive Edge in Europe by 2015
BRUSSELS, March 2, 2010-- Europe suffers from a chronic shortage of digital skills across all
sectors. A study released by empirica and IDC EMEA Government Insights
revealed that EU labour market may face an excess demand of 384,000 ICT
practitioners by 2015.
The ICT sector currently represents 3% of European employment, 5% of
European GDP, and 26% of research and development expenditure. It is
therefore not surprising to understand the increased application of ICT
solutions to many societal challenges such as: e-health, e-government and
e-learning. Based on this trend, over the next five years it is estimated
Europe will require an estimated 5 million ICT practitioners.
DIGITALEUROPE - the voice of Europe's digital industry in Brussels -
together with its partner BITKOM, the German ICT industry association, and in
cooperation with the social science research and consultancy empirica today
presented facts and figures at a press conference held at CeBIT.
"The burning issue for Europe is to build an adequately e-skilled
workforce to drive its economy forward and maintain its leadership position
in the 21st Century," stated Bridget Cosgrave Director-General DIGITALEUROPE.
Successful economic recovery in Europe can be led through e-skills and
digital industry - a sector which has the capacity to create 400,000 jobs in
the next five years.
By 2015, 90% of all jobs, across all sectors, will require the use of
ICT. "E-skills play a crucial role for those individuals seeking employment,
as well as for those already in professions," said Cosgrave.
"It is of paramount importance to grow our e-skills and digital literacy
if Europe wants to move out of economic recession and reduce its
unemployment, particularly for young people," confirmed Werner B Korte,
Director and e-skills research project leader at empirica.
"An adequately e-skilled workforce is necessary to drive Europe's economy
forward," explained Korte. "ICT practitioner jobs are highly resistant to the
crisis, with unemployment 40-50% lower than general rates.
Data shows the e-skills gap will amount to between 1.7% and 13% of
unfilled vacancies by 2015 in Europe."
"Germany is affected strongly by the e-skills gap", stated Bernhard
Rohleder, Director General of BITKOM. "Even at the height of the economic
crisis, there are 20,000 vacancies for ICT professionals in Germany. The
e-skills gap has turned from cyclical to structural. Without a
substantial increase in ICT professionals, Germany will be hampered in its
innovation capacity."
For Europe to avoid losing its competitive edge and emerge stronger from
the global recession there is need for a continued trilateral commitment from
government, industry and education. It was suggested Europe is at a critical
cross road; needing to invest in a strategy and e-competencies framework to
highlight the attractiveness of ICT-related professions.
The European e-Skills Week is a prime example of how industry and
education stakeholders can contribute to close the e-Skills gap. The
initiative is funded by the European Commission, DG Enterprise & Industry.
DIGITALEUROPE and European Schoolnet joined forces to manage the pan-European
campaign on the Commission's behalf.
As part of the campaign BITKOM launched a national initiative "erlebe it"
to foster e-Skills at schools. "erlebe it" matches school requirements with
IT-Scouts from companies. Another partner initiative "IT Fitness" has issued
3 ICT user certificates, and provides e-learning for apprentices.
"Industry faces a responsibility to cater for its own future
professionals," said Rohleder. "The European e-Skills Week is an excellent
means to underpin our national efforts for a competitive and innovative ICT
sector."
"Europe could lose an important competitive advantage to emerging and
technically-savvy countries if we do not we fully capitalised on the ability
of the digital industry to drive growth and e-skills to fill jobs -both key
drivers for long term economic prosperity and continuity of the European
social model. Now is the time to invest,' said Cosgrave.
DIGITALEUROPE is the pre-eminent advocacy group of the European digital
economy acting on behalf of the information technology, consumer electronics
and telecommunications sectors. We are dedicated to improving the business
environment, and to promoting industry's contribution to economic growth and
social progress in the European Union. DIGITALEUROPE's members include 58
leading corporations and 40 national trade associations from all the Member
States of EU; altogether 10,000 companies with 2 million employees and
EUR1,000 billion in revenues. You can learn more about our activities via
http://www.digitaleurope.org
BITKOM is the voice of the information technology, telecommunications,
and new media industry in Germany. BITKOM represents more than 1,300
companies, with 950 direct members, including practically all global players
as well as 600 key midsize companies. BITKOM's membership generates a sales
volume of EUR135 billion annually, exporting EUR50 billion worth of high
technology each year.
http://www.bitkom.org/
empirica is an internationally active research and consulting firm
founded in 1988 and based in Bonn, Germany. It specializes in communication
and information technology related research and consultancy to clients in
both private and public sectors. Empirica helps bridge the widening gap
between new developments and innovations and their application in ways fully
meeting user needs. http://www.empirica.com/
Media Enquiries:
Natalia Kurop, DIGITALEUROPE, Director, Communication & Marketing,
T. +32-2-609-53-26, F. +32-2-609-53-39, M. +32-487-34-05-71,
E.natalia.kurop@digitaleurope.org
Maurice Shahd, BITKOM, Press Spokesman Politics & Markets,
T. +49-30-27576-114, M. +49-151-148-248-30, m.shahd@bitkom.org
Source: DIGITALEUROPE
Media Enquiries: Natalia Kurop, DIGITALEUROPE, Director, Communication & Marketing, T. +32-2-609-53-26, F. +32-2-609-53-39, M. +32-487-34-05-71, E.natalia.kurop@digitaleurope.org; Maurice Shahd, BITKOM, Press Spokesman Politics & Markets, T. +49-30-27576-114, M. +49-151-148-248-30, m.shahd@bitkom.org
Experts Warn of ICT Labour Shortage and Loss of Competitive Edge in Europe by 2015
BRUSSELS, March 2, 2010-- Europe suffers from a chronic shortage of digital skills across all
sectors. A study released by empirica and IDC EMEA Government Insights
revealed that EU labour market may face an excess demand of 384,000 ICT
practitioners by 2015.
The ICT sector currently represents 3% of European employment, 5% of
European GDP, and 26% of research and development expenditure. It is
therefore not surprising to understand the increased application of ICT
solutions to many societal challenges such as: e-health, e-government and
e-learning. Based on this trend, over the next five years it is estimated
Europe will require an estimated 5 million ICT practitioners.
DIGITALEUROPE - the voice of Europe's digital industry in Brussels -
together with its partner BITKOM, the German ICT industry association, and in
cooperation with the social science research and consultancy empirica today
presented facts and figures at a press conference held at CeBIT.
"The burning issue for Europe is to build an adequately e-skilled
workforce to drive its economy forward and maintain its leadership position
in the 21st Century," stated Bridget Cosgrave Director-General DIGITALEUROPE.
Successful economic recovery in Europe can be led through e-skills and
digital industry - a sector which has the capacity to create 400,000 jobs in
the next five years.
By 2015, 90% of all jobs, across all sectors, will require the use of
ICT. "E-skills play a crucial role for those individuals seeking employment,
as well as for those already in professions," said Cosgrave.
"It is of paramount importance to grow our e-skills and digital literacy
if Europe wants to move out of economic recession and reduce its
unemployment, particularly for young people," confirmed Werner B Korte,
Director and e-skills research project leader at empirica.
"An adequately e-skilled workforce is necessary to drive Europe's economy
forward," explained Korte. "ICT practitioner jobs are highly resistant to the
crisis, with unemployment 40-50% lower than general rates.
Data shows the e-skills gap will amount to between 1.7% and 13% of
unfilled vacancies by 2015 in Europe."
"Germany is affected strongly by the e-skills gap", stated Bernhard
Rohleder, Director General of BITKOM. "Even at the height of the economic
crisis, there are 20,000 vacancies for ICT professionals in Germany. The
e-skills gap has turned from cyclical to structural. Without a
substantial increase in ICT professionals, Germany will be hampered in its
innovation capacity."
For Europe to avoid losing its competitive edge and emerge stronger from
the global recession there is need for a continued trilateral commitment from
government, industry and education. It was suggested Europe is at a critical
cross road; needing to invest in a strategy and e-competencies framework to
highlight the attractiveness of ICT-related professions.
The European e-Skills Week is a prime example of how industry and
education stakeholders can contribute to close the e-Skills gap. The
initiative is funded by the European Commission, DG Enterprise & Industry.
DIGITALEUROPE and European Schoolnet joined forces to manage the pan-European
campaign on the Commission's behalf.
As part of the campaign BITKOM launched a national initiative "erlebe it"
to foster e-Skills at schools. "erlebe it" matches school requirements with
IT-Scouts from companies. Another partner initiative "IT Fitness" has issued
3 ICT user certificates, and provides e-learning for apprentices.
"Industry faces a responsibility to cater for its own future
professionals," said Rohleder. "The European e-Skills Week is an excellent
means to underpin our national efforts for a competitive and innovative ICT
sector."
"Europe could lose an important competitive advantage to emerging and
technically-savvy countries if we do not we fully capitalised on the ability
of the digital industry to drive growth and e-skills to fill jobs -both key
drivers for long term economic prosperity and continuity of the European
social model. Now is the time to invest,' said Cosgrave.
DIGITALEUROPE is the pre-eminent advocacy group of the European digital
economy acting on behalf of the information technology, consumer electronics
and telecommunications sectors. We are dedicated to improving the business
environment, and to promoting industry's contribution to economic growth and
social progress in the European Union. DIGITALEUROPE's members include 58
leading corporations and 40 national trade associations from all the Member
States of EU; altogether 10,000 companies with 2 million employees and
EUR1,000 billion in revenues. You can learn more about our activities via
http://www.digitaleurope.org
BITKOM is the voice of the information technology, telecommunications,
and new media industry in Germany. BITKOM represents more than 1,300
companies, with 950 direct members, including practically all global players
as well as 600 key midsize companies. BITKOM's membership generates a sales
volume of EUR135 billion annually, exporting EUR50 billion worth of high
technology each year.
http://www.bitkom.org/
empirica is an internationally active research and consulting firm
founded in 1988 and based in Bonn, Germany. It specializes in communication
and information technology related research and consultancy to clients in
both private and public sectors. Empirica helps bridge the widening gap
between new developments and innovations and their application in ways fully
meeting user needs. http://www.empirica.com/
Media Enquiries:
Natalia Kurop, DIGITALEUROPE, Director, Communication & Marketing,
T. +32-2-609-53-26, F. +32-2-609-53-39, M. +32-487-34-05-71,
E.natalia.kurop@digitaleurope.org
Maurice Shahd, BITKOM, Press Spokesman Politics & Markets,
T. +49-30-27576-114, M. +49-151-148-248-30, m.shahd@bitkom.org
Source: DIGITALEUROPE
Media Enquiries: Natalia Kurop, DIGITALEUROPE, Director, Communication & Marketing, T. +32-2-609-53-26, F. +32-2-609-53-39, M. +32-487-34-05-71, E.natalia.kurop@digitaleurope.org; Maurice Shahd, BITKOM, Press Spokesman Politics & Markets, T. +49-30-27576-114, M. +49-151-148-248-30, m.shahd@bitkom.org