Lack of adequate graduates is major reason two-fifths (40%) also believe there is a significant skills gap in the public sector IT industry
Only 4% of surveyed public sector IT professionals think that graduates are ready for real-world roles, which is likely a key reason why two-fifths (40%) believe there is a ‘significant’ skills gap in the public sector IT industry. That’s according to new data from SolarWinds, a leading provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software.
The research, based on a survey of over 100 global public sector IT professionals, highlights that while the technology sector is rapidly evolving, the public sector is struggling to keep up, and the skills gap is widening—particularly for those entering the workforce post-education.
The growing skills shortage is having major real-world impacts on the public sector. Almost a fifth (18%) of the IT professionals surveyed agreed that the skills gap is causing project delays and increased costs, while a quarter (25%) rely on outsourcing to address their skills gap—a significant concern against the backdrop of budgetary restraints being felt across the public sector.
Worryingly, IT professionals believe the problem is not likely to improve. A third (33%) of those surveyed believe the skills gap will get worse over the next year, with over half (52%) admitting that they are struggling to hire qualified professionals. Additionally, over a fifth (22%) say that it’s “impossible” for training to keep up with the pace of innovation.
While teams look for alternative methods to address the skills gap, these are often costly and won’t support their long-term success. As a result, less than a fifth (19%) of respondents are confident that the training and development of IT staff are adequately funded in their budget.
Rich Giblin, Head of Public Sector and Defence at SolarWinds, said: “These findings highlight that despite various plans and initiatives being put in place, the public sector is facing a significant ‘skills gap’ problem, hampering its productivity in the short and long-term.
“With the public sector providing vital services for citizens across the world, improved training and education that better aligns with public sector needs is urgently required. This can include creating a culture of continuous learning, providing access to development resources, and offering learning incentives. Additionally, other solutions that could be easily implemented include leveraging skilled channel partners who can provide third-party expertise and embracing solutions that enable operational resilience and incident response.
“Without action, we’re all at risk. It’s not too late to make much-needed changes to ensure the public sector is equipped for the future.”
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