IT taken off skills shortage list

The government has decided that the IT skills shortage is over, but critics say that the reality across the UK is very different.

The Home Office has removed all IT skills from its official list of occupations with a shortfall of skilled workers. It will no longer issue 'fast-track' visas to overseas IT experts seeking jobs in the UK because it believes there is sufficient supply within the European Union.

UK companies must now advertise all IT posts to EU workers before seeking staff from abroad, although the Home Office will review the state of the labour market in three months.

But John Eary, head of the NCC Skills Source Consultancy says that there are still IT skills imbalances across the country - with a heavy concentration of skills in London and the South East - so employers will struggle to find the right staff.

'There is still a shortage of good people who not only have the skills but can apply them effectively. That's a subtle skills shortage that statistics won't necessarily pick up,' he said.

Nicolas Mabin, recruitment director at Cap Gemini Ernst and Young, says the Home Office decision is bad news for IT recruiters and will add delay and expense. 'This will prevent us from moving quickly, and slow down recruitment particularly in hard to find areas.'

But John Higgins, chief executive at trade body Intellect, says the decision will not cause problems. 'For most companies short-term staff shortages are not an issue. But the decision needs to be monitored regularly as IT skills is a very volatile market, particularly around emerging technologies.'

Contractors group the PCG says the decision is the result of a year of lobbying for an overhaul of the fast-track visa system. The PCG claims that the number of UK contractors out of work has more than tripled in the last two years.

'We're not opposed to the work permit system but it has to be for the benefit of the UK economy,' said PCG spokesman Philip Ross.