The IT Pro Podcast: Why the tech skills gap doesn’t exist
It’s a perennial problem, but the issue may not lie in a lack of talent

The tech skills gap is something that gets brought up again and again, as organisations lament their struggles to find talented developers, engineers and security professionals. The problem, so they claim, is that there just aren’t enough potential employees in the industry to meet demand for these positions.
But are companies struggling to fill roles because there aren’t enough qualified candidates, or does the real reason have more to do with hiring practises, company culture and attitudes towards certifications? This week, we’re taking a look at the supposed causes of the skills gap, and why companies are thinking about tech skills in the wrong way.
Footnotes
- The IT Pro Podcast: Picking a programming language
- Turn on, log in, burn out
- Why COVID-19 could spur a learning revolution
- Microsoft will help 1.5 million Brits build careers in tech by 2025
- Bridging the coronavirus skills gap
- The STEM skills gap — crisis averted?
- The IT Pro Podcast: How upskilling can improve diversity
- IBM job ad calls for 12-years of experience with six-year-old Kubernetes
- How do we fix security's toxic culture?
- Taking the road less travelled to a career in IT
- Two thirds of UK organisations facing digital skills gap
- Majority of Brits received no digital training during the pandemic
- Three-quarters of over-45s keen to invest in digital skills
- What should I be looking for when hiring a developer?
- CIO hiring process to focus on emotional intelligence in 2021
- So you want to work for a tech startup? It’s not all ping-pong tables and yoga
- What are your tech skills worth?
- The softer skills CIOs will need to adopt for the future
- 7 skills you need to become a front-end developer
Subscribe
- Subscribe to The IT Pro Podcast on Apple Podcasts
- Subscribe to The IT Pro Podcast on Google Podcasts
- Subscribe to The IT Pro Podcast on Spotify
- Subscribe to the IT Pro newsletter
- Subscribe to IT Pro 20/20
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
ITPro is a global business technology website providing the latest news, analysis, and business insight for IT decision-makers. Whether it's cyber security, cloud computing, IT infrastructure, or business strategy, we aim to equip leaders with the data they need to make informed IT investments.
For regular updates delivered to your inbox and social feeds, be sure to sign up to our daily newsletter and follow on us LinkedIn and Twitter.
-
Should AI PCs be part of your next hardware refresh?
AI PCs are fast becoming a business staple and a surefire way to future-proof your business
By Bobby Hellard
-
Westcon-Comstor and Vectra AI launch brace of new channel initiatives
News Westcon-Comstor and Vectra AI have announced the launch of two new channel growth initiatives focused on the managed security service provider (MSSP) space and AWS Marketplace.
By Daniel Todd
-
‘AI is coming for your jobs. It’s coming for my job too’: Fiverr CEO urges staff to upskill or be left behind
News The latest in a string of AI skills warnings has urged staff to begin preparing for the worst
By Ross Kelly
-
IBM pledges support for UK government cyber skills program
News The CyberFirst Girls competition is aimed at increasing diversity in the cyber security workforce
By Emma Woollacott
-
AI skills training can't be left in the hands of big tech
News Speakers at Turing's AI UK conference lay out challenges to AI skills readiness
By Nicole Kobie
-
Tech talent shortages mean firms are scrapping traditional recruitment strategies
News With more than half of enterprise leaders worried about future skills shortages, many organizations are turning to a range of new techniques to expand potential talent pools.
By Emma Woollacott
-
The UK’s AI ambitions face one major hurdle – finding enough home-grown talent
News Research shows UK enterprises are struggling to fill AI roles, raising concerns over the country's ability to meet expectations in the global AI race.
By Emma Woollacott
-
Businesses know they have major skills deficits, but less than half plan on hiring more women
News Male IT leaders remain complacent about gender diversity despite widespread skills shortages
By Emma Woollacott
-
Put AI to work for talent management
Whitepaper Change the way we define jobs and the skills required to support business and employee needs
By ITPro
-
Essential skills for managers: Develop resilient employees
Whitepaper Build team culture, no matter where your people are located
By ITPro