What are the consequences of an IT shortage?

The impact of labour shortages is growing in almost all business sectors, including, unfortunately the IT department. This reality is especially true with the advent of digital technology: the demand for future IT professionals continues to grow. A report published last year by the Information and Communications Technology Council estimated that between now and 2025, employers should make provision for 250 000 additional tech jobs.

As a result, demand for qualified employees represents one of the major current trends in the industry. More and more businesses are opting for digital technology to improve productivity, ensure cybersecurity, increase competition or stand out from competitors.

An issue of productivity

Since the pandemic, the IT field has only grown exponentially and the phenomenon is showing no signs of slowing down soon. According to some experts, after a 5.3% increase in 2022, we can expect a 22.4% increase in the industry between now and 2024. Today, the need for technology skills is ubiquitous in every sphere of activity in order to ensure the smooth functioning of a company’s business processes. Labour shortages are slowing this down in a way that will have a direct and negative impact on production. 

A prerequisite for cybersecurity

With the growing number and development of cyberattacks, the pressure on businesses is intensifying to comply with the requirements associated with the protection of confidential data. The need for competent, qualified IT personnel is critical and most of the time companies are facing hiring challenges which threaten their operations and cybersecurity. According to the Fortinet 2022 Cybersecurity Skills Gap report, labour shortage could be the cause in 80% of the security breaches experienced by  the companies surveyed. 

A recruiting challenge

In the field of digital and communications technology, the employment opportunities that need to be filled are significantly higher than the number of professionals available. Hired mainly by companies in the past, IT professionals and programmers are now in demand in the majority of sectors. Yield, productivity and cybersecurity are in large part the responsibility of the IT department. Consequently, employers are under considerable pressure to assess the actual needs of their businesses and offer appropriate remuneration and working conditions to attract and retain the best candidates. This results in a rather precarious balancing act in order to ensure the stability and sustainability of the organization.  

There are solutions to rectify the IT skills shortage and optimise your in-house resources. We can help you find the solutions that will best fit your situation. Contact us today.