The UK economy could miss out on £2bn a year if more tech workers are not found to fill the digital skills gap, a new report has stated.
More than 2m people already work in the digital economy, but it needs 750,000 more tech-savvy staff by 2017 if it hopes to make the most of the UK’s burgeoning tech scene, according to the research by Development Economics.
Nearly 200,000 of these potential jobs are well-suited to young workers, many of whom are currently unemployed, added the study.
Ronan Dunne, chief executive of O2, who commissioned the research, told the Telegraph: "Now more than ever before, digital offers the chance to drive sustained economic recovery, but this will only be realised if we become a nation of digitally confident businesses with a digitally literate workforce.
"Businesses must proactively seek out opportunities to collaborate to maximise the digital growth opportunity and harness the potential of the next generation. As digital natives, young people possess valuable skills that will be the future fuel of our economy, but not enough is being done to harness them."
