A snapshot of local information and communication technology (ICT) skills

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey today welcomed the publication of a new report on ICT skills in Northern Ireland

The 'NI ICT Snapshot' is the first dedicated source of information about changes in the demand/supply of ICT labour and skills in Northern Ireland.

Produced by e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology and supported by the Department for Employment and Learning, under the ICT Action Plan, the snapshot will provide a regular temperature test of the skills and recruitment issues facing the ICT sector in Northern Ireland. The snapshot will be carried out on a six monthly basis.

The Minister said: “We are already working closely with ICT bodies and employers to highlight the opportunities within this exciting industry through the Bring IT On advertising campaign, interactive school workshops and university road shows. This new resource will complement this good work and further help us better identify, understand and respond to the skills needs of this critical sector.”

Commenting on the findings of the first report, Sir Reg added: “I am particularly pleased that even in the current environment, the survey has shown a continuing demand for IT graduates and that a third of companies surveyed expect to recruit IT professionals over the next six months. Also, this innovative sector continues to show its resilience with nearly two thirds (64%) planning to develop new services to overcome the current economic downturn and 53% already developing new products.”

The Minister concluded: “While we recognise there are still challenges facing this sector due to the economic conditions, recent announcements such as that made by Intune Networks of the creation of 43 new highly skilled jobs, can give us grounds for optimism. It is particularly encouraging that the key reason for the company’s decision to locate the jobs in Northern Ireland was the pool of specialist talent available to them.”

Notes to Editors

1. The NI IT Snapshot is published by e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology.

2. The production of the snapshot was commissioned as part of the implementation of the ICT Action Plan, a collaborative programme of activity involving Momentum (the Northern Ireland ICT Trade Federation), e-skills UK (the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology), Invest Northern Ireland and the Department for Employment and Learning.

3. The snapshot can be downloaded at e-skills.website

4. For media enquiries please contact DEL Press Office on 028 9025 7872 or out of hours call the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 0769971 5440 and your call will be returned.