Space Technology

By: WomenInTechnology
IT and technology skills will be central to the UK's growth in the coming years, according to a new report published by the government.

The study, developed by the UK Commission for Education and Skills (UKCES), was carried out in order to assess the skills that will be needed by the country in the future.

Entitled 'Skills for Jobs: Today and Tomorrow', the report argued that increasing skills across the country is essential to long-term economic growth.

It added that as the UK has just emerged from the longest recession on record, an industrial policy that is "more active" is required to protect the nation in the future.

Skills are a major component in this and it is essential that the government invests in developing the workforce and equipping staff with up-to-date and relevant skills, the study claimed.

"Significant progress has been made in raising the qualification levels of the workforce and stimulating supply over the past ten years, so that the supply of highly skilled people is likely to place the UK 10th in the OECD by 2020," UKCES said.

"This progress needs to be sustained to retain the UK's international position. However, we also need to continue to stimulate our demand for, and growth of, high skilled jobs."

Computing and software abilities, STEM skills and engineering qualifications, in particular, were cited as crucial areas for development.

"Information and communication technologies are likely to continue to collapse space and time and to have an increasing impact on employer choices as to the location of work, which will enable further increases in the geographical specialisation of production, which will also be increasingly 'skill biased'," the report said.

"The further development of digital media, the use of e-commerce, and increasing availability of the range of products/services available online will be important."

e-Skills UK, the sector skills council for the IT and technology jobs sector, welcomed the new report and said that its findings make clear the strategic importance of the industry in the future of Britain.

Karen Price, chief executive of the organisation, said that its own research shows that ICT could generate up to £35 billion for the economy in the coming years.

"Technology holds the key to innovation and global competitiveness across all sectors and we're pleased that Skills for Jobs: Today and Tomorrow reflects that," she commented.

"The findings in the report echo those from e-skills UK's recent research – showing that technology is central to future employment growth. The number of IT and telecoms professionals has continued to grow despite the recession and is expected to grow at around four times the average UK rate over the next ten years."