If you’ve browsed any of the major recruitment websites recently, then you might have noticed a growing number of open vacancies employers are struggling to fill. In fact, the number of available roles has surpassed one million for the first time since records began.
So, what’s contributing to this shortage of suitable candidates and what should employers do when there just isn’t the talent available?
According to some within the recruitment industry, the problem lies with a lack of digital skills amongst candidates. The issue is that some of the affected sectors are suffering because innovation has moved so quickly that many have struggled to keep up.
While speaking to the BBC, former Apprentice winner Mark Wright suggests that some tools and technologies are still so new that there's a very limited pool of candidates who have the skills needed.
"Facebook advertising, Google advertising — some of this stuff has only been around five to 10 years and there's a huge skills shortage," says Mark.
In this instance, Mark refers to digital marketing and online advertising, but the same is true for a wide range of digital roles.
Many existing professionals are self-taught and the number of new graduates who’ve specialised in relevant courses is low compared to more traditional subjects. Since 2015, the number of young people taking IT-related subjects at GCSE has dropped by 40%.
Employers expect candidates to already have the right training, while candidates expect employers to provide that training for them. The result is a widening shortage that's making it increasingly challenging to source qualified talent.
According to CTOs, software development is the third-highest sought after skill by employers. However, as with other digital roles, there’s a significant shortage of developers who can meet demand.
Businesses are faced with a choice — pay the absolute top dollar on the best of the best to tempt them away from their current role. Or, they can hire candidates who might not have the same level of skill or training and hope they have what it takes to thrive at their company.
Employers are either taking a risk on untested candidates or competing with organisations worldwide for a tiny pool of developers. This choice isn’t a sustainable one and many businesses are already looking at alternative solutions.
To remain competitive, businesses can’t afford to sit around and wait for talent to present itself. The solution? Individuals who can harness Low-Code technology to create the same custom applications and digital services that developers would produce.
They might not have the same level of experience or training. Still, thanks to Low-Code development platforms, they can create fast, easy and customisable applications which are designed to solve any number of challenges a business might have.
Crucially though, they’re a lot cheaper. At the time of writing, Reed lists the average salary of a software developer in the UK as being £46,417. For smaller businesses, it’s just not feasible to have a full-time developer on staff.
By harnessing Low-Code development, businesses can create applications that automate time-consuming tasks, saving them time and in the long term money. It’s a win-win for all involved. Employers can take advantage of cutting-edge apps that make a real difference day-to-day, while the individuals who created them are happy to have increased their skillset.
App development, performance optimisation and digital transformation are just some of the critical processes that stagnate due to the growing skills shortage. Your business’ growth shouldn’t have to wait on pause until the available talent pool learns the relevant skills.
We provide the knowledge, expertise and augmented resources to support you in delivering your digital application projects. With an ever-changing market, time is of the essence and you can’t risk handing your competition the advantage.
We take the time to understand the specific challenges you’re currently facing whether this is due to to legacy systems not allowing you to stay ahead of the competition, or you’ve recently gone through a merger or acquisition and need to integrate two tech stacks, we can help you to develop bespoke strategies to ensure you get the best solutions that not only work for you now but are also future-proof.
For more information on the services we provide, browse our services page that’s filled with the services we offer.
Alternatively, don’t hesitate to download our free guide for everything you could possibly need to know about Low-Code. It’s packed with information on the different Low-Code platforms and how it stacks up against other coding methods. Get your free copy now by clicking the link below.