Ebusiness professionals in short supply

The UK will be short of 620,000 IT professionals by 2003, with serious deficits in key ebusiness skills holding companies back.

A report from the European Information Technology Observatory (Eito) warns that shortages will push up salaries and delay major projects. Ebusiness will be hit hardest, with the deficit of qualified employees rising from 126,000 this year to 270,000 within two years.

One-third of the positions for internetworking skills will remain unfulfilled, with a shortfall of 132,000 people.

The issue is not simply one of education, the report warns: IT has a damaging image problem. The brightest graduates are avoiding technology careers because they are seen as "nerdy", according to the report.

Some of the blame lies with a mismatch between what is taught at universities and the skills needed by industry - largely because of poor communication between the two.

More than three-quarters of jobs have a web or ecommerce element to them, which will make the skills shortage more pressing for smaller businesses, according to researcher IDC.

As technologies such as electronic marketplaces become standard for large companies, smaller firms will have to get connected - but will find it hard to recruit the skilled staff they require.

The Computing Services and Software Association has called for tax incentives for employers and employees to retrain.

Also published in Computing