IT skills gap could cause outsourcing rush

An increase in outsourcing could be the result of an IT skills gap in the UK, an expert in the field has predicted.

Chairman of the National Outsourcing Association, Martyn Hart, remarked that changing the face of the IT sector could take some time and thus outsourcing is likely to increase.

'At present the IT industry is struggling to recruit the next generation to the profession, as the nerdish image of an IT worker puts off many youngsters from entering the industry,' he remarked.

However, such changes are long-term projects, he added.

Following recent news that a new IT Master's has been launched by firms such as BT, Microsoft and EDS along with the Higher Education Funding Council in attempt to replace the lack of entry-level IT jobs, Mr Hart noted that training and education was the only way to gradually reduce the skills shortage.

'British workers should be educated and employed to take the highest-level UK IT jobs,' he said.