IT skills shortage could affect public

13:00 20th October 2008

A shortage of students taking IT at degree-level could begin to affect the delivery of public services, according to the British Computer Society (BCS).

The trade association has suggested that a continuing fall in students seeking IT skills has led to a shortage of fully-trained IT professionals in vital sectors such as the City, healthcare and defence.

During the video debate IT Skills Supply and Demand Cycle, the BCS also disclosed that despite the harsh economic climate, demand for entry level IT jobs is still outstripping supply.

David Evans, government relations spokesperson at the BCS, believes that this competition could prove detrimental to public bodies.

He said: "Those who can afford to raise salaries … are going to be the ones who attract the best IT graduates … further on down the line this will start to affect those things that matter to us on a daily basis, like public services."

Last week, a Chartered Management Institute survey disclosed that IT managers are calling for calm and a long term strategy to deal with the current financial downturn.