E-business creates new jobs in Britain, says industry study

More than 850,000 jobs could be created in Britain by the development of e-businesses by 2003. But skills shortages threaten to leave one in 10 vacancies unfilled, according to a report released today.

E-commerce consultancy Spectrum Strategy is bullish about the impact of the internet. It calculates that nine per cent of all UK gross domestic product could come from the sector within three years - far higher than previous estimates.

Spectrum said the internet is deeply changing the economic landscape of Britain despite recent waning of enthusiasm for dot-com stocks.

The study includes in its definition of internet workers those who are working for existing telcos or are involved in creating other digital content for broadcast over the web.

More than four fifths of employers interviewed agreed that the internet was creating new jobs, although 90 per cent added that a serious shortage of skilled people could jeopardise expansion.