The Northeast Ohio Information Technology (IT) Workforce Initiative, led by NorTech, today released a report that analyzes the region’s demand and supply of IT professionals in Northeast Ohio. While previous research had indicated a reduction in demand for IT workers, this study suggests employers have a renewed and growing demand for IT professionals and skilled workers across the region.
“The Northeast Ohio Information Technology Workforce Report” was commissioned by NorTech, Northeast Ohio’s leading technology-based economic development organization, and prepared and conducted by the Public Services Institute at Lorain County Community College, the Center for Public Management at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University, and Cypress Research Group. Other members in the Northeast Ohio IT Workforce Initiative include: Cuyahoga County Workforce Investment Board, Northeast Ohio Research Consortium of the Ohio Urban University Program, Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education (NOCHE), Northeast Ohio Software Association (NEOSA), and Team NEO.
The report highlights nine major findings, based on national/local IT talent development trend analysis, employer surveys/interviews, and focus groups with IT graduates and higher education institutions. Below is a summary of the key findings:
• The Information Technology (IT) Workforce is Sizable - There are an estimated 96,000 IT professionals employed in Northeast Ohio and survey data estimates that at any given time, half of all employers with more than 25 workers are seeking to fill at least one IT position.
• Employers Needs are Clear - The greatest demand for IT workers in 2006 and 2007 were for Business Application Specialists, Programmers, Software Engineers/Architects, and Web Developers.
• Demand Out Paces Supply – The system of higher education is not producing enough graduates to keep pace with the employer demand for professional workers.
• Work Experience is Paramount – According to IT graduates, experience equals employment. Recent graduates were frustrated with the amount of work experience required by employers for specific jobs yet only about 20% of employers offered at least one form of work-based learning experience (e.g., internships) in 2006.
• Soft Skills Dominate – Communications skills, project management skills, ability to apply IT applications to the business setting, and willingness to adapt/keep pace with change were among the primary skill demands described by employers during in-depth interviews.
• Most IT Jobs Require a Bachelor’s Degree: (65% of all job openings in 2007)
• Use of Non-Permanent Workers is Common – Nationally, the use of non-permanent workers (like temporary workers or consultants) has increased steadily since 2001. The same is true of Northeast Ohio.
• IT Graduates Are Not Connected to Jobs – Most often, employers recruit workers from other companies in Northeast Ohio and do not recruit individuals directly from school. This finding is also substantiated by the amount of churn or turnover that exists in Northeast Ohio for IT positions. In 2006, 42% of employers used consultants to fulfill IT work requirements.
• Connections Between Employers & Educators Are Needed – Overall investment in training and development of IT workers is low in Northeast Ohio and few employers partner with education and training providers.
In addition to supporting an analysis of supply and demand, the IT Workforce Initiative will work with other stakeholder organizations to develop a roadmap or action plan based on strategic priorities outlined in the report. Some of those priories include: more work-based learning experience for IT students; better alignment of employer’s technical and soft skill needs with IT academic programs; more entrepreneurial IT course work; better connections between IT graduates and available jobs; and greater connections between the private sector and Northeast Ohio’s system of higher education for incumbent worker training. The roadmap will build upon existing regional strengths and outline the steps necessary to fill some of the identified gaps and create a world class IT workforce for the region.
“The recent research and analysis has improved our understanding of the talent related factors that contribute to the region’s ability to build a strong and vibrant Information Technology industry cluster. It’s important for industry and academia to work together to solve these complex workforce issues so our region can be remain globally competitive,” said Dr. Roy Church, President of Lorain County Community College and Chair of the IT Workforce Initiative.
“We were and still are concerned that high tech talent may be a growth limiting factor in Northeast Ohio’s high tech economy and that’s why the IT roadmap is critical to resolving the talent shortage for the region’s IT industry. However, IT is not the only industry in Ohio experiencing talent shortages–there are number of groups and organization in the region working on talent attraction, retention and development strategies for those industries. The key to success will be working together strategically and tactically on these issues,” Dorothy Baunach, President and CEO of NorTech.
The complete report can be found at: http://www.nortech.org and http://www.lorainccc.edu/Business+and+Industry/PSI/
For additional information about this study, please contact Shara L. Davis, Director of the Public Services Institute at Lorain County Community College, at sdavis@lorainccc.edu or (440) 366-7578.
About NorTech:
NorTech, the Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition, is a technology-based economic development organization and catalyst for making Northeast Ohio a global leader in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. NorTech works closely with regional technology leaders to build a globally-competitive, innovation driven, technology economy by: Leading technology projects that have an impact on the region’s innovation infrastructure; Linking together regional technology leaders and innovation assets to spur collaboration and commercialization; and Leveraging public and private investments to revitalize Northeast Ohio’s economy. www.nortech.org
About the Public Services Institute and Joint Center for Policy Research:
The Public Services Institute is a division of Lorain County Community College providing a link between higher education and governments, non-profit organizations, and civic leadership through education, training, expert facilitation of group and community processes, public engagement, and research to address issues of importance in Lorain County, Northeast Ohio, and the entire state. The Institute encourages use of data and information to inform planning, problem-solving, and decision making. http://www.lorainccc.edu/Business+and+Industry/PSI/
About the Center for Public Management, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University:
The Center for Public Management’s mission is to serve as a resource for Ohio’s state and local governments and not-for-profit organizations by providing services to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of governance operations and public policy. The Center for Public Management provides technical assistance, policy analysis, applied research, organizational and staff development, and training services to a broad clientele. Since its inception in 1982, the PM has served state and local governments, not-for-profit organizations, public works agencies, special districts, and policy and legislative organizations on a local, regional, state, and national basis. http://urban.csuohio.edu/publicmanagement/
About Cypress Research Group:
Cypress Research Group is a ’boutique’ market and business research firm. They provide custom research services to meet various market and business research needs. The group’s research professionals are all experienced on the ‘client side’ and the ’supplier side,’ giving them a keen appreciation of how important it is that all projects are completed on time, on budget, and per the clients’ specifications. Their job is to solve clients’ business problems through business intelligence gained through research. http://www.cypress-research.com/