Within five years, the information technology industry in the UK will employ more people than worked in coal mining during that industry’s post-war peak, according to findings released this week by IBM Corp. According to IBM, 10% of all new jobs created during the current economic recovery in the UK are in IT, and the computer services industry is one of Britain’s fastest growing industries, with sales growing by nearly 25% a year in 1996 and 1997. With sales of 22.7bn pounds in 1997, the IT industry accounted for about 2.4% of the UK’s gross domestic product. However, in spite of predictions that more than a million people will be employed in computer-related jobs within five years, IBM says the biggest problem will be the skills shortage that is already apparent. To reach the million plus target in five years, the UK would have to attract 250,000 more people into the business over the next four years, and IBM is calling for nationwide initiatives to substantially increase the number of available skilled workers. Needless to say, IBM itself claims to have recruited some 15,000 people in services alone during 1997, and says it expects to hire 15,000 more for each of the next three years. It also says it gives on-going training throughout an employee’s career. Next month, the company will host a seminar at it’s London head office, entitled Women in Information Technology which IBM says is to explore how more women can be attracted to careers in the IT industry.
