Magazine Subscribe Events Careers Backblog About Press Releases Media Kit Supplements Books
Top 300 Issue 2007 Latest Issue Archive Editor's Letter From the Publisher Sponsors / Advertisers
Current Issue

Backbone TV


NEW Geoweb video
Portals
Backbone's information on...


Careers

Data Management

Economic Development

Education

Green
New Supplement

Health

Olympic Tech

Outsourcing 

Security 
New Supplement

Social Networking

Tech Associations Canada

Travel

Unified Communications & VoIP

Web 2.0

Wireless 
Multimedia

sponsored by



Videos - NEW

Small Business
Case Studies -NEW

Webcasts

How-to Guides

Guide for Small Business


Is your company eligible to be featured in an Intel Small Business Case Study?

Skill shortage still primary concern May 5, 2008 
By Peter Wolchak

A study from Microsoft Canada and the Strategic Counsel confirms an overwhelming majority of Canadian C-level executives, IT professionals and students believe there’s a shortage of information technology skills in Canada. However, their assessment of its severity differs: 90 per cent of respondents agree Canada is experiencing a shortage but only 60 per cent of C-level executives feel this is a serious concern for businesses, compared to 96 per cent of CIOs and 77 per cent of IT professionals.

One reason for this disparity is 76 per cent of C-levels see systems upkeep and maintenance as the most important role for IT. By contrast, three-quarters of IT professionals say they want more opportunities to make a difference for their organizations, while 85 per cent of students surveyed say more challenging work environments are a priority as they plan their IT careers.

However, that desire for interesting work may hit up against a workplace reality: IT professionals devote up to 80 per cent of their time to routine maintenance. Other study findings:

> 78 per cent of IT pros want opportunities to make a difference in their organizations

> 90 per cent agree IT executives should be consulted when a business is making a strategic decision

> 69 per cent of C-level executives characterize IT staff as “reactive,” well ahead of “strategic” and “innovative”

> 92 per cent of CIOs agree top IT talent is difficult to attract and retain; only 61 per cent of other C-level executives agree



Backspace Archive
Top Lists

 

Top 50 Technology Companies

more Top lists>>
Green Innovation

Top 300 Issue
 
Gadget of the Week (Canadian)



Pick the best 3G for you 
RIM Blackberry Bold 

Choosing the right smartphone is an important decision, and here’s the good news: while both the new iPhone and the Bold are excellent, the feel is entirely different, making it easy to choose.

more>>
Gadget of the Week (Japanese)




Sounds of Japan
Why record just the visual when you can capture the sounds as well.

more>>
Backblog RSS feed
Click to subscribe
© 2006-2007 Backbone Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.