IT Labour Disconnect: High Demand / Low Supply

1. IT Labour Disconnect:High Demand / Low Supply Daniel L. Silver, Ph.D. Jodrey School of Computer Science Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada Jodrey School of Computer Science

2. Outline • High Demand for Skilled Labour • Low Supply of New Talent • Reasons / Solutions for the Disconnect • Recent Findings Jodrey School of Computer Science

3. High Demand for Skilled Labour Unemployment: ICT < 3.5%; National average > 6.5%. Jodrey School of Computer Science

4. High Demand (thousands) NORTEL Source: Industry Canada website: Quarterly Monitor of the Canadian ICT Sector - Q2, 2008 Jodrey School of Computer Science

5. A Landscape of Opportunity Small Systems Admin. and Support System Installation and Technical Support CS + Application area X Interdisciplinary Specializations Programming Computer Science Project Management Programming Software Development System Analyst/Design Technical Expert Research Jodrey School of Computer Science

6. Outlook – Even Higher Demand • ICTC Outlook 2008-2015 Report (Oct 30, 2008): • 125,000 to 175,000 ICT workers needed • 15,795 to 22,345 per year • 50% of hiring because of retirements • 40% Fed. IT workers eligible for retirement in 2008 • Half of all hires: • Systems analysts and software engineers • Computer programmers and interactive media developers • User support technicians Jodrey School of Computer Science

7. Outlook – Even Higher Demand • From 2008 – 2015: • 7,200 university graduates per year needed (min.) • 5,100 domestic capacity (BSc, BEng) • 2,100 through immigration … students will pick their job! Workforce Requirements Source: ICTC 2008-15 Outlook October 2008 Jodrey School of Computer Science

8. Most needed ICT talent inCanada? 37% of sector = 700,000 jobs in 2008 (Data from Feb, 2006) Source: ICTC 2008-15 Outlook October 2008 Jodrey School of Computer Science

9. Where are the ICT Jobs in NS? Source: NSCC Survey of Nova Scotia’s Information Technology Industry, June 2008 Jodrey School of Computer Science

10. An Optimistic Future in NS for IT! Source: NSCC Survey of Nova Scotia’s Information Technology Industry, June 2008 Jodrey School of Computer Science

11. Nova Scotia’s best kept secret: Entrepreneurial opportunities here at home Jodrey School of Computer Science

12. Nova Scotia’s best kept secret: Entrepreneurial opportunities here at home Jodrey School of Computer Science

13. Nova Scotia’s best kept secret: Entrepreneurial opportunities here at home Jodrey School of Computer Science

14. Nova Scotia’s best kept secret: Entrepreneurial opportunities here at home Jodrey School of Computer Science

15. Graduates 40% 2002 2005 1998 Low Supply of New Talent Canadian IT Being Off-shored !

16. Low Supply – Just in a cycle? Change in Enrollment in North America Source: CRA Jodrey School of Computer Science

17. Low Supply – Just in a cycle?Change in Enrollment in Nova Scotia CS students enrolled in NS universities (mean proportion of maximum) Jodrey School of Computer Science

18. So … Why the Disconnect? • Potential Reasons • Proposed Solutions Jodrey School of Computer Science

19. Reasons / Solutions for the Disconnect • Lack of Public Awareness of Problem • Since 2003 media has focused on IT bust • Most recently Nortel, Bell, Intel, MS layoffs • Public unaware of IT impact on economic future • Solutions: • ICTC, ITANS, CIPS, ACM, CRA mounting campaigns • Require industry & gov’t involvement and funding • $57.6 B (4.7%) of GDP in 2007 • Up 4.4% from 2006, compared to 2.5% total GDP • Similar rise last 5 years Jodrey School of Computer Science

20. ICTC – Information and Communications Technology Council of Canada Jodrey School of Computer Science

21. Reasons / Solutions for the Disconnect • Cultural Challenges • What does a computer scientist do? Youth, parents, teachers know little about IT careers • Few role models – Geek image dominates • Few girls interested • Solutions: • Robotic / Programming competitions & mentoring • School councilor & teacher workshops • Out the “Closet Geeks” / Women in IT associations Jodrey School of Computer Science

22. What is a Computer Scientist? • Designs computers and the computer software • Develops information technologies for application in business and industry • Tackles complex problems • Often working in groups • Loves to innovate, create solutions • Loves to learn – changing , exciting field • Good concentration and attention to detail • Methodical, logical, good communication skills  Project leadership and managerial positions Jodrey School of Computer Science

23. ICTC Awareness Campaign Jodrey School of Computer Science

24. Jodrey School of Computer Science

25. Reasons / Solutions for the Disconnect • High School Educational Challenges • CS is part of Tech. Ed. and not Science curriculum • Mathematics has not been a priority in Canada • Typically one CS course / Few trained educators • Solutions: • Offer 1st year Intro CS courses to high schools • Accept students based on challenge exams • Offer Cert. / Masters in Math and CS Education • Seed & feed CS teacher association Jodrey School of Computer Science

26. Reasons / Solutions for the Disconnect • Demographic Challenges • Youth population growth in Canada is declining • Solutions: - Viagra, International recruitment • Industry Disincentives: • “3-5 years experience” on job adverts • Only 25% of ICT sector is women • Solutions: - Apprentice program tax incentives • Priority: Immigrate high quality female talent Jodrey School of Computer Science

27. Reasons / Solutions for the Disconnect • University CS Department Challenges • Curricula need revision • CIPS endorsing applied CS curriculum • Need for more scholarship funding • Solutions: • Listen to Industrial Advisory Board • Computer Science plus Domain X • Engage alumni / industry in scholarship campaign Jodrey School of Computer Science

28. What are employers looking for? • Core technical skills (CS, Datacom) • Experience with domain applications and computing platforms • Experience with specific business processes to which ICT is a solution • Great communications • Great team‐work skills Jodrey School of Computer Science

29. Educational PathsThe Interdisciplinary Advantage Degree programs in computer science are expanding to applied interdisciplinary areas Computer science + Domain X knowledge • E-Commerce and Business Informatics = CS + Business • Environmental Informatics = CS + Env. Science • Mobile Computing = CS + Handheld technologies • New media / Game Development = CS + Entertainment • Health Informatics = CS + Health Care • Bioinformatics = CS + Molecular Biology Jodrey School of Computer Science

30. 2008 UK Study – Attitudes of Undergrads on Careers in IT • Web-based questionnaire • Snapshot of opinions - two week window • Respondents: • 1144 computing/IT students • 749 non-computing students Jodrey School of Computer Science

31. 2008 UK Study – Attitudes of Undergrads on Careers in IT • Computing students confident about careers • 79% felt certain they had made the right choice • 90% plan to work in ICT sector • Main influencers • Personal interest and abilities • Exciting projects, chance to apply knowledge • Females - opportunity to effect society, environment, keep options open • Salary and career prospects – but lower on list Jodrey School of Computer Science

32. 2008 UK Study – Attitudes of Undergrads on Careers in IT • Perspective on IT promotion in schools • 50% of computing students felt IT not well promoted in schools • IT teachers had little impact on degree choices • Major reason for non-computing students not entering computing degree • Expect work to be boring, repetitive, not involving interesting people and projects Jodrey School of Computer Science

33. 2008 UK Study – Some Surprising Findings • Students had few fears of sector decline due to dot.com bust or off-shoring of labour • Negative images of sector/professionals do not translate into reluctance to enter sector • Do so few females in IT turn girls off? • 70% of female computing students say this is not an important influencer • 40% of female non-computing students had no opinion, 21% were ferociously opposed to idea Jodrey School of Computer Science

34. 2008 UK Study – Attitudes of Undergrads on Careers in IT • Exposure to/Promotion by employers/sector • 32% of computing students and 49% of non-computing felt sector did not promote careers • 41% of computing students and 59% of non-computing felt IT employers had a lower profile than those of other sectors • However … 70% of students undertaking work experience found it a major factor for confirming degree choice Jodrey School of Computer Science

35. 2008 UK Study – Recommendations • Best strategy: • Campaign to overcome false perceptions of IT careers – boring, repetitive, isolated • Engage employers in campaign • Work with employers to create and foster work terms … Co-op Jodrey School of Computer Science

36. Q/A and Discussion cs.acadiau.ca danny.silver@acadiau.ca Jodrey School of Computer Science

37. Thank You!cs.acadiau.cadanny.silver@acadiau.ca Jodrey School of Computer Science