A major drive to boost jobs and match young unemployed with large numbers of existing vacancies is behind a new European initiative aimed at addressing the predicted 900,000 ICT vacancies by 2015, according to Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Richard Bruton.
Among the initiatives that will be introduced are improved training and skills matching, led by ICT employers; a common EU certification system for ICT skills; and assistance services and funding to enable ICT workers to move within the EU to areas to match demand for skills.
The Minister made the comments as he joined EU Commission president José Manuel Barroso and other Commissioners as well as Europe’s leading ICT employers, ICT training providers, public employment services and other stakeholders to launch a major new initiative to improve ICT training and matching for ICT workers, young job seekers and the unemployed across the EU.
The Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs will run for an initial term of two years from 2013 to 2015 and will includes measures such as improved ICT training and skills matching; a single European certification system for ICT skills; creation of assistance services and funding to enable ICT workers to move within the EU to areas where demand for their skills is highest; development of a number of campaigns to ensure European students and young professionals fully appreciate the range of ICT related jobs and career paths open to them; and the creation of a one-stop-shop for Web entrepreneurs.
In February, Minister Bruton chaired a workshop focused on the employment potential of Europe’s ICT sector, as part of an informal meeting of EU employment ministers in Dublin.
Minister Bruton said: "The Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs is a hugely important initiative. Job creation and economic growth are at its core. Reflecting our domestic priorities, job creation in Europe is a top priority of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
"ICT is one of the key engines of economic growth and the better use of ICT will be critical to enhanced European competitiveness, growth and jobs. Even during the economic crisis, the numbers employed in ICT have been growing by 3% annually. In spite of this, strong demand will continue and according to the latest revised data, there is expected to be up to 900,000 unfilled vacancies in the EU for ICT professionals by 2015.
"We see the number of ICT graduates in Europe has decreased from 127,000 in 2006 to 114,000 in 2010. We cannot afford to allow European labour markets to fall behind in this way and lose job opportunities in favour of other regions of the world."
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