Europe is in the throes of a tech skills shortage crisis, with an estimated 1 million workers missing from the industry, and four out of ten adults lacking basic digital skills.
However, Europe’s challenge may offer rewards for ambitious candidates whose credentials can fill the void.
With 77% of EU organisations struggling to find employees with the necessary training, there has never been a better time to explore opportunities in the market for those with covetable skill sets.
In demand skills
Despite layoffs across the tech sector, Europe’s AI industry is on track for a steady CAGR of 25% by 2026. The forecasted growth comes from research from the International Data Corporation, and will be extremely encouraging for workers in the field of AI for career advancement and development.
IDC Senior Research Manager, Martin Nuska says that “Europe faces a potential recession, while the labour market is marked by contradictory forces—a shortage of skilled workers in certain tech areas on one hand, while on the other even the biggest tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are laying off tens of thousands of workers.
“We expect the AI market to continue performing strongly nevertheless, because of the technology’s potential for long-term cost optimisation and as a possible solution to the skills gap.”
Software development and cloud computing careers, in particular, hold a host of opportunities across many sectors as most companies depend on this technology for ecommerce, payroll, and data storage, for example.
Python and JavaScript are still the top two programming languages in demand for 2023.
Cybersecurity is an exciting, complex area that will see workers in demand for the foreseeable future.
It is an ever-evolving field with highly sought-after individuals required to combat attacks and exploits. Notably, problem-solving and critical thinking are vital strengths required for prospective careers in cybersecurity, and those attracted to the space further prove the importance of soft skills in tech.
Deploying resource to opportunity
The tech talent gap shows no signs of ease yet. Last month kicked off the EU Commission’s 2023 Year of Skills initiative. The aim is to address the widening skills shortage in the EU, offering upskilling and training in areas of concern.
“We need much more focus in our investment on professional education and upskilling,” says President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
“We need better cooperation with companies because they know best what they need. And we need to match these needs with people’s aspirations. But we also have to attract the right skills to our continent, skills that help companies and strengthen Europe’s growth.’’
In short, those looking to upskill in key areas of need or already in possession of a much sought-after skill set will be in demand for their services immediately.
Gender gap
The shortage of ICT specialists and other technology experts combined with the lack of digital experts, particularly in SMEs, will be paramount in addressing the gap in tech skills.
The staggering need for more women to enter the sector is evident with just 22% holding positions in tech according to research by McKinsey. Recruiting women will be pivotal in securing growth and competitive advantage in the industry.
Remarkably, if Europe doubled its female workforce to about 45%, or an estimated 3.9 million additional women by 2027, not only would it close this talent gap, but this would yield a GDP increase up to €600 billion, McKinsey found.
Huge opportunities and clear demand for females in particular to enter the tech sector are evident, and the rewards could be extremely fruitful for those determined to progress in areas of growth.
If you’re thinking about your next role or curious about how your expertise could translate into the near future, there are some excellent positions on the Silicon Canals Job Board. Here’s a taster of what you can expect to find…
Senior Cybersecurity Response Engineer, Workday, Dublin
Workday is a leading provider of enterprise cloud applications for finance, HR, and planning. Founded in 2005, Workday delivers financial management, human capital management, and analytics applications designed for the world’s largest companies, educational institutions, and government agencies.
Its Dublin office is hiring a Senior Cybersecurity Response Engineer, who will be a problem solver with a taste for complex challenges who can devise practical, innovative, and effective solutions using the most appropriate languages, tools, and hardware.
(Senior) DevOps Big Data & Analytics (m/w/d) in Teilzeit, REWE digital, Frankfurt am Main
In this (Senior) DevOps Big Data & Analytics role, you’ll enable the efficient provision of cloud components and automate processes along the entire data science and development cycle. Plus, you’ll structure automation along the complete data science, ETL and software development process and scale machine learning models.
To apply you’ll need a degree in (business) computer science or a comparable qualification, plus
several years of experience in the field of cloud DevOps and IaC, sound knowledge of the Google Cloud environment and ideally, you’ll have experience in advanced analytics projects (e.g. Python, R).
Python Developer, Berlin
An exciting role has come up in a Berlin-based start-up recruiting for a talented Python Developer to work as part of a cross-functional team on their server platform and help to innovate the system.
You will need an excellent knowledge of Python, JavaScript and DevOps, experience with test-driven development and an ability to discuss solutions as part of a team.
For more career inspiration or to find your next role, explore the Silicon Canals Job Board today
Read the orginal article: https://siliconcanals.com/news/startups/kai/guestblog/tech-talent-gap-presents-opportunity-in-europe/
