The percentage of firms reporting IT skills gaps increased in the first quarter of 2006, according to a the latest quarterly eSkills UK IT Inquiry.

The consequent impact of these gaps on UK businesses reached the highest level recorded in a year.

Findings released this week show that the percentage of firms reporting a skills gap increased from 12 per cent to 14 per cent but on the impact scale of zero-100, where zero is 'no effect' and 100 is 'company closure'.

Firms reporting gaps in the skills of ICT staff rated the effects at a worrying 48.

'Although the ICT skills gap only marginally increased in the first quarter of this year, this research shows that the impact of skills issues is potentially very damaging for organisations,' said Karen Price, chief executive of eSkills UK.

The report, which is based on the opinions of over 1,000 business and IT leaders, also found that each IT position advertised externally will attract around 26 applications but just seven (27 per cent) applicants will fully match the requirements set out within the job description.

Some 20 per cent of IT recruiters stated that they had difficulties finding applicants with the required level of skills / knowledge – a rise of three per cent from the previous quarter.

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Further reading:

Offshoring opens up skills gap

Workers must ensure IT skills meet business requirements

IT job turnover highest in UK