Continued economic growth and IT expansion, the impending retirement of baby boomers and an insufficient supply of skilled workers have caused a worldwide technology talent shortage that is expected to intensify over the next decade.
In an economy that continues to add jobs, companies of all sizes are having difficulty recruiting and retaining highly skilled IT candidates. Seventeen percent of the more than 1,400 CIOs interviewed for the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report said they plan to add full-time IT staff in the third quarter of 2007, while only 2% said they anticipate personnel reductions. The net 15% hiring increase is the biggest since the fourth quarter of 2001.
On top of that, some 64 million baby boomers, or more than 40% of the U.S. workforce, are quickly approaching retirement age. Meanwhile, fewer college students are choosing to major in computer science, engineering and mathematics to refill the ranks.
Employers are especially hard-pressed to find and retain workers with skills that can’t be obtained through a quick certification course or a couple of years on the job — such as the ability to think strategically, lead projects, manage teams and mentor less-experienced staff. In response, smart companies are turning to consultants and project professionals.
Source: ComputerWorld
