More vacancies exist in the digital and creative sectors than across the economy as a whole, according to new research by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).
With more than two million people already employed in this sector – worth £137 billion to the UK annually – the industry is calling out for new graduates.
Graduates being in demand
The research found that high level graduate roles such as programmers and web developers are largely unfilled as fewer graduates are choosing the sector.
UKCES also predicted that 1.2 million people will be needed to fill these roles by 2022.
This shortfall in graduates has come at a time when highly skilled staff are in high demand across all sectors.
Karen Price, the Director of Tech Partnership, a network of employers working on digital skills, said that the UK is a world leader in digital and creative and that effort is needed to keep it that way.
She spoke of a need to find talented individuals to fill the ever growing number of jobs in the sector.
With just 23% of the workforce across the industry being female, Price said it’s key to highlight to female graduates that there are “great opportunities in the digital sector and that the rewards are great too”.
Offering 25% higher salaries
The research also suggests that due to the high volume of vacancies on offer, current employees are experiencing larger workloads.
UKCES also found that within the sector the jobs are highly productive and well paid, with the average salary 25% higher than the UK average.
Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: “The UK’s Digital and Creative industries are amongst our biggest success stories but for them to continue to flourish we must make sure the next generation of talent is bring taught, trained and nurtured.”
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