Digital Skills Shortage – Is The UK Heading Towards a Disaster?

Categories: Computing, Undergradute

13/04/2021

Digital Skills Shortage – Is The UK Heading Towards a Disaster?

A study carried out by a think tank on behalf of The Learning & Work Institute has recently highlighted an alarming scenario that could play out in the UK, with regard to a shortage of digital and computer skills if something isn’t done, and soon. Since 2015, the number of young people who have elected to take IT subjects at GCSE level has dropped by a staggering 40%. When this figure is considered in respect of the increased demand that consulting companies are seeing for skills in robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cloud Computing, it all points to one thing - not enough people with the necessary skills to fill these gaps in the job market.

As we begin to slowly move out of the pandemic, digital and computer skills are particularly important to our economic recovery, so this shortfall could strike a devastating blow to the economy.

The research by The Learning & Work Institute revealed that as many as 70% of young people believed that employers would invest in on the job training for the digital skills that are needed. However, only around 50% of employers are actually in a position to do this. In fact, a significant number of employers are of the belief that there is simply not a sufficient level of digital skills amongst those young people leaving full-time education.

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