UK set to fall behind global IT economy

13:04 28th August 2008

The UK will fall behind the rest of the global economy if it cannot produce the next generation of highly skilled IT professionals, according to E-skills.

The not-for-profit organisation believes that the current school IT curriculum needs to be more attractive if the UK's IT industry is to compete with the rest of the world.

A-level computing students declined by ten per cent to 5,068 in 2008, while the number of students taking ICT dropped from 18,029 in 2003 to 12,277 this year, sparking concerns of a future IT skills shortage.

"The continued decline in the number of students choosing IT-related A-levels and GCSEs highlights a serious issue for the UK," said Margaret Sambell, director of strategy at E-skills.

"In order to compete in the technology intensive globalised economy, we need an inspiring curriculum in schools that attracts increasing numbers of talented students into technology-related degrees and careers," she added.

A recent survey by IT recruitment group ReThink disclosed that 49 per cent of UK IT directors expect to increase permanent staff numbers over the next year.

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