Labor Shortage in IT Industry Despite Recession

A new survey by New Zealand's Ministry of Economic Development found a significant shortage of skilled labor in the information technology (IT) industry, despite the recession and resulting job losses. The situation has prompted the University of Otago to increase its incoming information science students by up to 100 percent over the next two years.

New Zealand's Information and Communications Technology chief Brett O'Riley says 83 percent of the companies surveyed had difficulties recruiting qualified staff, and those difficulties were having a significant impact on their business. The survey also found that companies were expecting to experience continued growth in staff levels during the coming months, and more than 50 percent of companies surveyed were planning to appoint technical staff. O'Riley says the survey demonstrates there will be continued employment opportunities in a variety of highly paid roles, including programming, project management, and network and systems engineering, in the IT and telecommunications industries.

University of Otago professor Martin Purvis says about 80 IT and computer science students graduate from the university each year, and most, if not all, receive multiple job offers. The university is working to encourage secondary school pupils to study information technology at a higher level.

O'Riley says that information and communications technology "education and skills are a global employment passport."

From Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
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