Last
week IT employers launched a charter to tackle the crisis of IT skills
throughout industry. Meanwhile PC manufacturer Compaq announced it was to cut
5,000 jobs worldwide leading to speculation that 3,000 jobs in Scotland could
be affected. It was the latest in a series of announcements of job losses or
profit warnings in the high-tech sector. If you take the two developments
together they appear to present a conundrum. Why lay off staff when you have
skills shortages?
An
attempt by employers to tackle the IT skills crisis is obviously welcome and is
not before time. And there is nothing wrong with the aims of the IT skills
charter.
However,
there is something missing. Oddly, nowhere does it say that the IT industry
will invest in more training. Surely it is cheaper to train existing staff in
IT skills than to recruit new people, especially in companies which are making
mass lay-offs? Any explanations would be welcome. Â