It has been reported that by 2015, there would be 4.4 million IT jobs created globally. The United States is set to fill 1.9 million of these jobs. (Gartner Symposium/ ITxpo 2012)
It is evident that with the increase in job creation within one sector, it creates a ripple effect on various other sectors as well. The US estimates that a further three people will be employed outside of the IT industry, for every data-related vacancy filled. This will escalate the employment opportunities created by the information economy to 6-million in the US.
South Africa's information sector is catching up and we could soon be seeing a similar effect on our shores. The hurdle we need to overcome in order to see a monetary improvement, is our lack of skills within the industry.
The education system within South Africa has taken many blows and is recuperating at a steady pace. The opportunities are there, we simply have to meet them half way. If we continue at this rate, we will only be occupying one-third of the IT jobs available. Experts within the IT sector are a valuable global commodity.
If we improve our IT sector, we can create major improvements within various organisations and in return attract the skills needed. The IT jobs available could be one of the few things that will spearhead the countries global standing.
Peter Sondergaard, senior vice president at Gartner and global head of Research, addressed an audience of over 8,000 CIOs and IT leaders at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2012. He said the IT industry is entering the Nexus of Forces, which includes a confluence and integration of cloud, social collaboration, mobile and information.
“This is a time of accelerating change, where your current IT architecture will be rendered obsolete,” Mr Sondergaard said. “You must lead through this change, selectively destroy low impact systems, and aggressively change your IT cost structure. This is the New World of the Nexus, the next age of computing.”
Gartner Symposium/ITxpo is the world's most important gathering of CIOs and senior IT executives. This event delivers independent and objective content with the authority and weight of the world's leading IT research and advisory organisation, and provides access to the latest solutions from key technology providers. Gartner's annual Symposium/ITxpo events are key components of attendees' annual planning efforts. IT executives rely on Gartner Symposium/ITxpo to gain insight into how their organisations can use IT to address business challenges and improve operational efficiency.
