Business abilities at a premium as rise of offshoring
holds down demand for programmers
The UK is experiencing a boom in demand for business-related IT
skills, early findings from the latest Computer Weekly/SSL Survey
of Appointments Data and Trends have revealed.
The number of job adverts for MIS and IT managers increased by
close to 30% in the first quarter of 2006. Demand for business
systems analysts and project managers also rose by more than 20%,
according to the survey of recruitment advertising on the internet
and in the press conducted by research firm SSL.
The steep rise in the number of management jobs advertised is
set against a more modest increase in overall IT recruitment
advertising, indicating a continued “two-speed economy” for
technology skills.
Lower-level IT skills, such as PC support, barely registered any
growth during the first quarter, and the market for technical
support skills is similarly sluggish. Growth in demand for software
engineers was also flat, and the number of vacancies for network
staff fell slightly from the previous quarter.
Anne Swain, chief executive of the Association of Technology
Staffing Companies, said there were two factors contributing to the
two-speed market for IT skills.
"The market has been picking up for a while but there is a bit
more confidence this year. New projects always need managers when
they start up, and then companies will recruit lower-level
skills."
The trend towards offshore outsourcing has exacerbated the
difference between demand for business management IT skills and
technical skills. “When companies come to build and support
applications they now have a choice of doing it in-house,
outsourcing or going offshore," Swain said.
Philip Virgo, strategic adviser at the Institute for the
Management of Information Systems, said, "You cannot contract out
management jobs to India, whereas with a lot of programming and
systems development you can."
However, Virgo said one area in which technical skills would
remain in demand in the UK was in financial services. "You have to
have world-class skills in a world-class market, such as financial
services," he said.
But generally IT professionals should look to acquire greater
business understanding and management skills to progress their
careers.
"Skills, in other words, to identify what users want and specify
it, rather than developing systems. Once you specify something, you
can contract out the development to India," said Virgo.
He recommended that technology staff look for internal
opportunities to work closely with users or business units. Those
out of work could also look to the voluntary sector to gain
business and management skills, he said.
Ovum analyst Kate Hanaghan said the shape of the UK jobs market
was shifting from a pyramid, with most jobs in lower-level IT
support and system development, to a diamond shape, with most of
the jobs in middle management and fewer low-level posts.
"The key is making sure that your skills are up-to-date and you
are gaining management and domain expertise.
“If you can get experience working with global suppliers,
including those based in India, then you will be in demand," said
Hanaghan.
* The full analysis of the Computer Weekly/SSL Quarterly Survey
of Appointments Data and Trends will be published on 16 May
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