Is the IT skills shortage over?

 The IT skills shortage appears to be easing according to the government, which did not include any technology occupations on the list issued today by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

The list is designed to identify those areas of the economy that are still looking for gaps to be filled with personnel from overseas.

Those areas that still require migrant skilled workers include nurses, engineers and teachers. The list is going to be studied by ministers before being finally agreed next month.

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty, said that the list appeared to be “broadly right” and it would be issuing something similar in about five to six weeks time.

In response the Professional Contractors Group (PCG) said that it welcomed the absence of IT roles on the list.

“As the economy enters choppy waters and demand for IT contractors in particular seems to be falling, it is good to see that the MAC has recognised that there is no overall IT skills shortage in the UK,” said the PCG’s managing director John Brazier.

The findings are slightly at variance with some of the stated views of vendors on the subject with Cisco amongst others being vocal about the skills shortage and the risk to future growth and innovation if more certified engineers are not found in the market.