Offshoring, ageism and image blamed for tech skills crisis

The increased use of offshore IT, ageism and the 'geeky' image of the technology industry are to blame for the lack of skilled UK tech staff, according to comments posted by silicon.com readers.

Our story on recommendations from UK tech industry forum the Information Age Partnership (IAP) on how to solve the skills crisis generated a big response from readers.

One reader said the truth is that there are far fewer IT jobs in the UK now partly because large numbers of jobs are being sent abroad, and grimly predicted: "Anyone thinking of entering this industry has to consider that they are likely to be made redundant in a few years as their job is likely to be transferred to India."

Another added outsourcing "continues to discourage new blood at the sharp end".

One reader said that what was needed were "decent employers who are willing to train graduates and offer some sort of job security", but went on to point out that there's not many of them around, as most think that "IT is an expense that takes money out of shareholders' pockets".

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The IAP outlined plans to address the UK's perceived IT skills shortage and to help the country remain competitive in the face of emerging rivals such as China.

The Delivering i2010 report focused on tackling the skills pipeline problem through cooperation of government, industry and academia to promote ICT.

But the image of IT in the UK was another factor hailed by readers as holding back training and recruitment.

Ian Paterson, a consultant, said: "IT has never been sexy but it needs a good dose of Viagra to get anyone's attention these days."

The issue of ageism concerned some with the recruitment problem being attributed to an unwillingness to recruit older worker with the right skills.

Reader Karen Challinor wrote in saying there's an unwillingness to hire older people, "who actually have more skills than the ones being sought".