OREANDA-NEWS. In the European Union (EU), nearly 8 million persons were employed in 2014 as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) specialists, representing 3.7% of total employment. Over recent years, both the number and the share of ICT specialists in total employment have continuously increased to better adapt to an ever digitalised world. However, almost 40% of enterprises with at least 10 persons employed which recruited or tried to recruit personnel for jobs requiring ICT specialist skills had hard-to-fill vacancies in 2014.
This profession is largely made up of men. accounting in 2014 for more than 8 ICT specialists out of 10 employed in the EU (81.9%). It also employed mainly highly educated people, with more than half (56.5%) of ICT specialists in the EU having a tertiary education level.
These data come from a report issued by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, and are used for several EU policies, in particular the Digital Agenda for Europe. The uptake of new information and communication technologies has been a significant driver of changes to both production methods and employment patterns. In light of the competitiveness of the European economy and EU employment strategies, policymakers and researchers feel a natural interest in the employment of ICT professionals, a small but strategically important segment of employment.
Share of ICT specialists in employment highest in Finland, lowest in Greece
In 2014. ICT specialists in the EU were mainly employed in the United Kingdom (1.49 million persons). Germany (1.47 million) and France (0.91 million). These three Member States accounted (or almost half of all ICT specialists employed in the EU in 2014.
In relative terms, the highest shares in 2014 of ICT specialists in total employment were recorded in Finland (6.7%) and Sweden (6.0%). followed by Luxembourg (5.1%). Estonia and the Netherlands (both 5.0%). At the opposite end of the scale. Greece (1.3%). Bulgaria and Lithuania (both 1.9%) and Latvia (2.0%) registered the lowest proportions.
Compared with 2011. both the absolute number and the share of ICT specialists in total employment increased in nearly all Member States by 2014. notably in Portugal. Germany. Belgium. Finland. France and Luxembourg. At EU level, the number of ICT specialists rose by almost 1.2 million persons between 2011 and 2014. and their share in total employment grew from 3.2% to 3.7%.
Highest share of male ICT specialists in Luxembourg...
In 2014. an overwhelming majority (81.9%) of ICT specialists employed in the EU were men. This was the case in every EU Member State, albeit in different proportions. The highest shares of male ICT specialists were observed in Luxembourg (89.2%). Cyprus (88.1%). the Netherlands (87.4%). Portugal (86.4%) and Italy (86.3%). while Bulgaria (68.2%). Estonia (70.4%) and Romania (71.1%) recorded the lowest.
The above figures show that women are under-represented among ICT specialists in all EU Member States, most particularly in Cyprus. Portugal. Luxembourg, the Netherlands. Austria. France. Denmark and Belgium, a striking contrast with total employment, where the genders are broadly balanced.
... of ICT specialists with tertiary education in Spain...
In the EU in 2014. more than half (56.5%) of ICT specialists had a tertiary education level. This was also the case in a majority of Member States. The highest proportion was registered in Spain (77.4% of ICT specialists had a tertiary education level in 2014). ahead of Belgium (72.9%). Bulgaria and Cyprus (both 72.3%). Ireland (71.4%). Luxembourg (71.0%) and Lithuania (70.2%). At the opposite end of the scale, the lowest proportions of ICT specialists having completed tertiary education were recorded in Italy (31.7%). Malta (38.5%). Slovenia (40.6%). Slovakia (41.8%) and Romania (42.2%).
Persons with a tertiary education level had a higher share in 2014 among ICT specialists than in total employment in all EU Member States, notably in Bulgaria. Spain. Croatia. Greece and France.
... and of ICT specialists aged less than 35 in Malta, Latvia and Lithuania
In 2014. more than 1 ICT specialist out of 3 (37.1%) was aged less than 35 in the EU. Across Member States, more than halt of all ICT specialists employed were aged less than 35 in Malta (59.8%). Latvia (56.3%) and Lithuania (52.0%). By contrast, persons aged less than 35 accounted for fewer than a third of all ICT specialists employed in Italy (27.0%). Denmark (27.7%). Sweden (30.8%). Finland (31.0%) and Luxembourg (32.0%).
In 2014. there were proportionally more persons younger than 35 among ICT specialists than in total employment in a majority of Member States, with the onty exceptions being Denmark. Sweden, the Netherlands. Finland, the United Kingdom. Luxembourg and Ireland.
Vacancies for ICT specialists most difficult to fill in the Czech Republic and Luxembourg
In 2014. more than 1 enterprise out of 3 which recruited or tried to recruit personnel for jobs requiring ICT specialist skills had hard-to-fill vacancies in every EU Member State, except Spain (14% of enterprises). Portugal (21%). Bulgaria and Italy (both 31%) and Poland (32%). The highest percentage of enterprises which had difficulties in recruiting ICT specialists was recorded in the Czech Republic and Luxembourg (both with 59%). followed by Austria (56%). the Netherlands (53%). Malta (52%). Estonia. Ireland and Slovenia (all 51%).