IDC Study finds that further action is needed to combat continued shortage of Networking Skills across key Emerging Markets

A set of three new reports covering nine countries in the Middle East region and <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Pakistan show that unless networking skills shortages are addressed urgently, in only three years there will be a shortage of almost 265,000 skilled people required to help drive economic growth in these emerging markets.  The reports are part of a series from IDC, commissioned by Cisco Systems to assess networking skills in the three regions and understand if an increasing shortage of skills will hinder growth.

The study found that by 2009, demand for the skilled people necessary to develop, build and manage IT systems required to support continued economic growth in these regions will outstrip supply by 35 per cent in countries surveyed in the Middle East region and Pakistan. In actual numbers, this equates to a shortfall of 114,800 skilled professionals in the Middle East region and Pakistan.

Additionally, the results show that Pakistan, Jordan and Kuwait are likely to experience gaps of more than 40 per cent by 2009.  In contrast, findings from the same study carried out across Western and Eastern Europe in 2005 revealed an average networking skills gap of 11.8 per cent by 2008.

The Middle East region has recorded some of the highest GDP growth rates in the world over the past three years. This growth, combined with the demand by businesses for more sophisticated Information Communication Technology (ICT) technologies to improve business agility, has led to the unprecedented demand for general and more advanced networking skills. Insufficient training programmes also compound the situation across these regions.

The situation is further impacted by the shortfalls in advanced networking technology skills in the areas of IP telephony, security and wireless networking. In these areas, the Middle East region have a projected gap of 41 per cent, amounting to a total advanced networking skills gap of 156,500 people. Countries surveyed in the Middle East are more likely to ‘leapfrog’ traditional technologies in favor of advanced technology adoption, which could potentially create a premature demand for the ITC skills.

While there are a number of regional initiatives currently underway to promote educational programs and enhanced training in science and technology, the potential gaps in all of the countries by 2009 highlight the need for additional efforts to provide appropriate training courses and encourage increased student enrollment.

Samer Alkharrat, General Manager, Cisco Systems Gulf Region, said: “These findings represent a call to action for  governments, the private sector, educators and individuals to do more to address the need to make more educational programs and training opportunities available. If plans are not put into place now, technology adoption, business competitiveness and market growth will be at risk.”

The scope for Internet growth across all of the countries surveyed is significant. In the countries surveyed in Middle East region and Pakistan, for example, 99 per cent of respondents still mostly use the network for email and Internet access.  Across the board, respondents expect future use of the network to grow, highlighting an increased importance for advanced networking technology capabilities.

Considering the need for advanced technology skills in the future, the potential skills gap by 2009 becomes more significant. The continuance and development of new training programmes should be seen as a key enabler in combating the continued shortages and providing long-term solutions.

Alkharrat said: “The networking skills shortage could become critical in hindering technology adoption and economic growth in these high growth markets unless action is taken now. By having the skilled people in place, businesses can take advantage of the productivity gains that can be generated with the rapid advances in technology – and that are being experienced in Europe. We need to continue to work with the Governments of these countries to raise awareness of employment opportunities across the regions, and encourage students to learn and develop both basic and advanced networking technology skills.”

Phillip van Heerden, senior analyst, IDC, said: “The business environment has evolved in recent years where supply chains compete against supply chains.  Organisations are now, more than ever, interconnected entities that depend on the network for integration with their business partners.  Not having sufficient networking skills available for this integration influences the competitiveness of not only organisations, but the country as a whole.”

Vendor-backed initiatives such as Cisco’s Networking Academy Program are already making a difference. The Cisco Networking Academy Program addresses the need for training in networking technologies through structured courses. The program has impacted more that 11,000 academies and 1.9 million students around the world since it began in 1997.  For more information follow: (http://www.cisco.com/go/netacad)

Skilled People Gap Overview

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