Computing and ICT

Computers and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) are now an essential part of our everyday lives – at work, home and elsewhere. ICT and Telecommunications is expected to be one of the two fastest growing industries in Scotland. It currently employs over 100,000, or 1 in 25, workers. An important aspect of the information and communication technology industry is the high rate of change. The actual power of computers grows every year and new applications are constantly being developed. According to e-skills, the Sector Skills Council for Business and IT, the employment of IT professionals is forecast to rise by 1.62% a year, up to 2020. And, up to 2015 there is a need for 9,600 new entrants a year to enter IT and Telecoms professional job roles in Scotland.

In 2012, 59.3% of computer science and IT graduates were working full time in the UK within six months of graduating. There are also opportunities for those without a higher education qualification. For example, in 2013, Microsoft announced plans to recruit 2,000 apprentices in Scotland over three years. There will be a particular demand for staff in system integration, networking, web design, games development, security and ICT architecture. There will also be more jobs in developing and implementing ICT systems and services, working on helpdesks and in ICT training. According to e-skills UK, the most in demand technical skills are SQL, .NET, Java, C#, SQL Server, Oracle, ASP, Javascript, Unix and Linux. They also found from employers that some of the hardest technical skills to fill are ASP.NET, SharePoint, C#, PHP and VMWare. There is a definite demand for more women in the industry, with just 17% of IT and Telecoms professionals in Scotland female. This must change if the industry is to stay competitive. E-skills UK has developed the Computer Clubs for Girls and Big Ambition initiatives to encourage more young women to consider a career in the industry. There is a wide range of work in the ICT industry, such as:

• systems analysis and software engineering or programming: developing software programs
• putting in and maintaining networks which link equipment over local or wider areas
• creating databases to store large amounts of information.

Specific job opportunities include games designers and developers, software programmers, database administrators and web developers. For most of these jobs you should be methodical, logical, accurate and have good problem solving skills. You must be able to talk easily to people, because you will have to explain technical matters to those who may not know much about computers. If you are considering a career in IT why not take a look at the Big Ambition website developed by e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology? You should find the video case studies and industry information useful.

There are lots of courses in computing subjects, at all levels. They range from 1-year National Certificates (NC) or National Qualifications (NQ), through Higher National Certificates (HNC) and Higher National Diplomas (HND) to 4-year degrees and postgraduate courses.

Sources

Technology Insights: Scotland 2012, e-skills UK

What do graduates do? 2013 - HECSU/AGCAS in association with UCAS

www.bbc.co.uk, 'Scottish women urged to enter the IT industry', May 2013

e-skills is the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology.

<< back to list of career areas and sectors