Bucking the recession, business spend on training for IT professionals will increase during 2009.

e-skills UK, the sector Skills Council for Business, says that almost 25% of firms with IT/Telecoms staff stated that they were experiencing an ICT-related skills gaps.

Around one in six IT/Telecoms recruiters were experiencing difficulties recruiting staff with the right skills, qualifications or experience.

The overriding complaint is that IT staff lack accompanying business skills that are essential to communicating iT investments and strategy to the business; and ensuring the business and IT investment strategies are in alignment..

The latest results of the ICT Inquiry (reporting on a survey of 2,000 UK key decision makers during February and March 2009) indicate that the issues weighing on business minds were the strength of the pound; the cost of supplies; legislative changes; availability of credit; and levels of consumer demand.

In response to the downturn, 90% of firms said it was fairly or very likely that they would review or reduce costs over the coming year and 25% expect a decrease in their overall headcount over the coming year.

Over 90% however said that the number of IT/telecoms staff employed would remain unchanged.

Training for business users
Despite the demand for their skills, remuneration packages for IT staff have been hit and 20% of companies anticipate a decrease in bonuses and other benefits for IT staff; a similar number expect the budget for recruitment and salaries to shrink.

Employers with vacancies for staff outside IT function said that the IT skills of these applicants were generally equal to the level required but 33% said database and spreadsheet skills were poor.

That begs a question. Are employers making investments in IT only to skimp on training and familiarisation for business users? If so, they are reducing the ROI and productivity improvements that the IT investment should offer.