Young people, including those who intend to work as a contractor through a paye umbrella company, think they will get a better job if they persevere with their education and obtain good qualifications.
A study conducted by The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS) discovered that 63% recognise how important education is to their future prospects, and 64% think computing and IT is an important subject. Furthermore, 65% said parents should recognise that a career in IT is as good a choice as entering into a longer-established profession.
The CEO of BCS, David Clarke MBE, said the research shows that it is important to start children’s IT education at an early age. IT is going to become increasingly more important to society and we must make sure our future IT professionals are equipped with the skills and qualifications necessary to give them the best chance of becoming the technology entrepreneurs and inventors of the future.
Clarke went on to say that young people deserve the best possible start from teachers, but parents also need to understand the wealth of opportunities available in the IT sector.
BCS has been calling for the inclusion of computer science on the National curriculum for some years and has already drawn up a list of computing concepts, principles and techniques children should be competent in by the time they reach the age of 16.
A new study by the REC shows that the UK continues to have a shortage of specialised IT workers. To address the problem, the REC suggests that recruiters should work alongside employers, schools and universities to encourage more young people to join the sector. Recruitment agencies and employers could work together to select the best universities for specific IT roles and provide expert careers advice to graduates and school leavers.
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Image: School by Elizabeth Albert
