Job market information
Finding out about IT
The IT industry includes people in IT companies, such as those offering IT services, technology‐orientated consulting, technology development, systems analysis, programming, systems testing and technology sales. It also includes IT professionals working in other sectors, such as people whose primary job role is IT orientated, which includes IT departments and IT support staff in companies. The IT industry together with Telecoms is represented by e‐skills UK Sector Skills Council.
A sector trend is the convergence of telecommunications, computing and networking and the move from hardware intensive to software intensive platforms. Embedded voice communications capability is already part of the internet, which also has to manage voice, data and video and location information.
The social, economic and market forces shaping UK IT skills are evolving as technology continues to progress from the back office to the board room. This is changing the market for IT skills, creating demand for both technology‐oriented business people and business‐oriented technologists – and blurring the lines between traditional business and IT disciplines.
Key facts:
- There is a total IT and Telecoms workforce of 1.5 million of which:
- 890,000 people are in IT and Telecoms products and services
- 600,000 IT and Telecoms professionals are working in organisations outside of the IT and Telecoms industries
- There are around 105,000 businesses in the UK offering IT and Telecoms products and services.
- IT‐intensive sectors represent 55% of the UK's total Gross Value Added.
- Less than 1% of those employed in IT and Telecoms occupations are under 18.
- 22% of companies who are trying to recruit IT and Telecoms professionals report difficulties in attracting applicants with the right skills.
- 58% of the workforce has a degree or higher education qualification.
- The IT industry is predicted to grow at a rate of 2.5% per year for the next ten years.
- There are 100,930 IT manufacturing and services establishments in the UK employing 600,000 people.
- The IT workforce accounts for 4% of the UK workforce.
Jobs in the IT industry include: Business analyst; Games developer; CAD/CAM Programmer/Trainer; IT trainer; Service technician; Software engineer/architect; Technology consultant; Web designer; Systems architect; Technical author.
Entry and progression
IT and Telecoms employers have a strong preference to recruit experienced people and when recruiting from education, preferences are for graduate level and above.
New entrants into IT and Telecoms professional job roles each year is expected to be:
- 70,900 people from occupations other than IT or Telecoms (i.e. experienced workers who can be re‐trained as IT & Telecoms professionals)
- 26,800 people from education (predominantly graduate level and higher)
- 43,600 people from other sources (e.g. re‐entering the workforce after a career break, early retirement or unemployment)
For entry into most IT professional roles, a degree is still the preferred option. Most employers accept graduates from any degree discipline, but most will require a minimum of a degree classification of a 2.1. There are four IT‐related degree families that are preferred, including: Business Information Technology; Computing; Computer Engineering; and Computer Games and Digital Media.
For mature entrants, the majority of employers still require a degree level education, although relevant work experience will also be taken into consideration. Apprenticeships also provide an alternative route. For those wishing to undertake an apprenticeship, most employers ask for 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above (or equivalent) including Maths and English.
It is possible to enter the IT sector without a degree or apprenticeship although without relevant work experience this will almost certainly be at an IT User level. IT User skills, such as knowledge and experience of word processing, database, presentation and spreadsheet software, will be of value. Softer skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem‐solving, creativity and commercial awareness, are considered just as important as formal qualifications.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
600,000 |
|---|
| Number of UK employers: |
100,930 |
|---|
| Gender: |
82% male |
18% female |
|---|
| Ethnicity: |
89% white |
6% Asian/Asian British |
|---|
| Age: |
21% of IT and Telecoms professionals are 16-29 years |
|---|
| 34% 30-39 years |
| 29% 40-49 years |
| 16% are over 50 years |
| On average, an IT/Telecoms professional working in the UK is around 37 years old. |
| Disability: |
10% of IT and Telecoms professionals have a disability. |
|---|
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey (April‐June), 2009.]
Employment trends and future prospects
Across England, the IT industry will grow at 2.54%, more than five times faster than the average employment growth in England. Projections of employment growth in the IT industry vary from 3.3% in London to 2% in the North West and South East of England.
Of the overall recruitment into IT and Telecoms professional jobs (to cover both growth and replacement demands):
- 65% into managerial and senior professional positions
- 19% into associate professional and technician level positions (such as IT Operations technicians and User Support)
- 17% into skilled trades (Telecoms and Computer Engineers) and administrative roles (e.g. Database Assistants)
There is a need for an average of 141,300 new entrants a year into IT and Telecoms professional job roles to 2012.
Future demand for IT skills will be shaped by emerging trends including:
- the impact of globalisation
- the importance of technology‐enabled business transformation
- the pressure for constant innovation in technology‐intensive products and services
- increased standardisation and industrialisation of IT
- convergence of platforms, devices and services and their impact on markets and business models
- environmental concerns and the desire for ‘green IT’
- the rise of social computing and Web2.0 with increased power to the consumer to determine content and services
- the impact of the new generation of ‘digital natives’ and the expectations they bring to the workplace and the market
Skill requirements and shortages
- While technical skills are needed for many roles, employers also want team‐players, problem‐solvers and good communicators.
- All IT jobs involve some level of technical content: These range from the deep technical skills of a software developer to project management roles where communicating with, and organising the people who do hold such technical knowledge, may be more important than actually having the technical skills.
- Because technologies are changing so rapidly, constant up‐skilling is essential, with skills traditionally regarded as being IT rather than Telecoms based now being required.
- Business and interpersonal skills are becoming more important.
Occupational trends
16% of firms have reported difficulties in recruiting ICT staff with the required skills, qualifications or experience. Problems have been reported with the recruitment of software engineers, technical support staff, systems designers, programmers, systems developers and IT/Telecoms managers.
National and regional data
Across the UK, there is an estimated IT and Telecoms workforce of 1.5 million who are predominately located in London and the South East. The IT workforce can be classified in IT manufacturing and IT services. The largest number of companies is located in:
- IT manufacturing
- South East
- London
- East of England
- IT services
- South East
- London
- East of England
Key regional facts:
- 39% of IT and Telecoms professionals are located in London and the South East
- the East of England has the third highest number of IT and Telecoms employees
- Northern Ireland, Wales and the North East combined comprise just 6% of the IT and Telecoms professionals
- 44% of all types of IT and Telecoms companies are located in London and the South East
- the highest median gross weekly earnings for IT and Telecoms staff are in London, the South East and the East of England, which are all above the UK median
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey (April‐June), 2009.]
Salary levels
IT and Telecoms employees’ median gross weekly earnings are on average £673; 49% more than the median gross earnings across the UK workforce (£452).
All occupations within IT and Telecoms earn above the gross UK median, with the exception of Database Assistants/Clerks who earn £300 a week, which is 34% below the UK median.
London and the South East have the highest average weekly earnings at £820 and £830, respectively. Yorkshire and the Humber had the lowest average figure at £560 a week.
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using e‐skills UK AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
