The Greek market is looking for IT executives. It will need 300,000 graduates by 2030 digital transformation countries. However, there is a shortage of relevant graduates, which acquires the features of a “Greek identity”, given the high unemployment rate in our country. As his research shows Hellenic Association of IT and Communication Companies (SEPE)an estimate of additional demand for IT professionals by 2030 is 15–16,000 people per year. The offer, on the contrary, is 8–8,500 people. Thus, the gap between supply and demand is between 7,000 and 7,500 units. Last Saturday, at a working meeting, SEPE leaders and representatives of companies in the sector that worked on the study discussed this issue with scientists and the leadership of the National Higher Education Authority (ETHAAE). Such as explained “K” ETHAAE President Periklis Mitkasone request is to improve the percentage of IT department graduates in Greek universities.

In particular, a survey conducted by Deloitte on behalf of SEPE confirmed that the vast majority of Greek companies have vacant information and communication technology (ICT) positions – 85% of companies responded positively – with a significant increase in demand expected in the future. Top 3 specialties for the coming years: planning, cybersecurity and cloud management. As for the public sector, the top 3 specialties are cybersecurity, information systems and data analysis/management/architecture, and network and telecommunications management/design.

According to the data received, about 8,000 new students are admitted to schools and faculties of computer science and computer engineering every year. About 5000-5500 graduates annually. The SEPE study says that we have about 160,000 ICT leaders and we need to reach 280,000-300,000 in 2030, which means about 16,000 new leaders per year. On the other hand, graduates seem moderately prepared to enter the market, and their company believes that they will become productive within 6-12 months.

Reasons for deficiency

The most important reasons for the shortage of ICT specialists in Greece are the lack of specialization in specific subjects, the emigration of young scientists, the lack of professional orientation in secondary education, the limited opportunities for vocational training in specific ICT subjects, and the low number of admissions to the relevant departments of Greek FOREVER.

However, the rectors-deans of the faculties of informatics and computer technology emphasized that they already have a very large number of applicants. Due to growth in recent years, coupled with downsizing, they take in far more each year than they can teach. They focused on the lack of resources (new faculty positions, etc.) and the central universities accepting too many transfers. Today we have 37 IT schools, and in the central ones (Athens – Thessaloniki) more than 200-250 people graduate annually. In regional schools, the numbers are lower. The NTUA School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (which is the largest of 37 schools) graduates 350-380 annually, of which 60% work in IT (about 440-460 enter after transfer). “At the most famous universities in the world, computer science schools at Stanford or MIT, about 250 people graduate every year,” said K. Dean of the corresponding faculty of NTUA Nektary Kozyris.

“Of course, the big problem is that a significant percentage of the above graduates work (either from Greece or immigrate) in foreign companies. Some of them are already working long before graduation,” said Mr. Kozyris.

New personnel reserves

At the same time, it was emphasized that in order to meet this urgent need of the country for ICT leaders, it is necessary to draw on a large pool of new leaders. For example, it has been said that there are many science graduates (e.g. mathematics, physics, economics, statistics, etc.) doing postgraduate studies in Greece in data science, machine learning, information systems design, etc. who can work in IT with great success. At the end of the meeting, 4 working groups were proposed and there is a tight deadline until the end of May, beginning of June, so that there are proposals and conclusions.

Numbers

160 000 positions of specialists in the field of information technology and communications, we had in 2022.

300 000 we need until 2030.

16000 posts per year will be required in the period 2023-2030.