IT sector in the Midlands booming but skills shortages could hamper growth

The IT arena is dominating the hiring landscape in the Midlands and is forecast to be the largest growth area in 2022, with vacancies surging to nearly 14,000 jobs so far this year. That’s according to recent research from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo).

The data, provided by business intelligence specialist Vacancysoft, also revealed that IT jobs are predicted to surpass 16,000 by the end of 2022. According to the research, the engineering profession is also reporting high demand and is expected to post the largest vacancy growth of the region (44%) in 2022, with jobs expected to hit close to the 7,000 mark by the end of the year. Engineering roles now account for approximately 10% of the total number of vacancies across the Midlands.

While the IT and Engineering sectors are experiencing impressive growth, APSCo warns that employers’ growth prospects could be hampered unless more is done to alleviate the already present skills shortages plaguing both areas.

Ann Swain, CEO of APSCo, comments: “While it’s encouraging to see that the Midlands jobs market is reporting growth this year, and indeed vacancies are well above pre-Covid levels, there’s no denying that the future looks uncertain. Added to this are the widely reported skills shortages that employers are contending with at the moment. The fact remains that, despite the economic environment businesses are contending with, they are still hiring and demand for skills is far exceeding supply.

“APSCo has long argued that more needs to be done by the Government to tackle this issue – not least positioning the UK as an attractive place for international talent, but also addressing skills development domestically. This includes changes to the Apprenticeship Levy and how apprenticeships are accessed so that employers can source and upskill talent. While the measures announced in the Autumn Statement will hopefully offer stability, more needs to be done to tackle the skills challenges if UK businesses are to thrive.”