Europe to get 1.5m new ICT jobs by 2010

The ICT sector is expected to create 1.5m new jobs in Europe by 2010, with SMEs seen as playing the biggest part in future ICT employment growth.

A study by analyst IDC on behalf of Microsoft suggested that 60% of the new jobs will be software-related, with a third using Microsoft platforms.

IDC also estimates that the jobs growth will create around £96bn in new tax revenues for governments. The report was published to coincide with a Microsoft SME Innovation Day in Brussels.

There are currently around 22 million SMEs across Europe, said IDC, employing almost 120 million people. This contributes 57% of pan-European gross domestic product.

IDC said in its report, "If SMEs can be stimulated into adopting new technologies more rapidly, and creating innovative products more competitively, Europe's position as a leading player in the global economy can be assured."