Possessing IT skills have become increasingly important in the Caribbean region, and there is a need for dedicated and well-developed IT talent. Some challenges appear to exist, a few of which we discuss.
If we did not know it before, access to suitable IT talent is crucial as Caribbean countries continue their digital transformation efforts across both the private and public sectors, and we try to figure out how to leverage emerging concepts and technologies, such as Web 3.0 blockchain technologies and the metaverse. However, if you listen to the pundits, demand for IT talent exceed supply in many Caribbean countries. As a result, even if the region wanted to accelerate ICT development, the argument is frequently made that the technical skills needed are not readily available, which in turn not just hinders skills availability, but also the innovation potential of many of our countries.
Having said this, and for the June 2019 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, which is managed by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), 25,406 candidates registered for the Information Technology examination, and 92% of candidates were reported to have passed! Further, and across the three main campuses of the University of the West Indies, enrolment in the Faculty of Science and Technology, in which Computer Science programmes can be pursued, is around 7,000. However, Faculty of Science and Technology tends to also comprise disciplines such as Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Geography and Geology, Mathematics and Physics, which suggests that the actual enrolment in Computer Science would be just a fraction of that total.
It is thus through that lens, and in light of the importance of technology to the current and future development of the Caribbean region that we seek to explore the state of IT talent in the region.
Qualifications versus industry readiness
One of the tensions that industry has been experiencing with regard to IT talent is the gap between the skills acquired through academic learning versus the skills and experience that is expected on the job. In response universities tend to argue that they cannot teach students exactly what they need to know for specific roles. Additionally, the skills needed in industry can change quickly – and in many instances, faster than the process through which university curricula can be adjusted. As a result, universities tend to focus on imparting the foundation, and so ensure that students know the fundamentals upon which they can continually develop more current and cutting edge skills.
It therefore means that students and recent graduates may need to be proactive in broadening their learning, and in developing skills and experience relevant or in demand in the current workplace. Additionally, employers that have specific technical/skills requirements, in particular, may need to be prepared to invest in training for new recruits. However, many of them are not willing to do so, which in turn can limit the development of their organisations.
Does demand really exceed supply?
Generally, there is limited authoritative data on the Caribbean IT market, more specifically employment and skills demand. Even anecdotally, it still is unclear whether demand for IT skills exceeds supply – although some industry players are likely to say yes.
Having said this, we all know of cases in which software developers cannot find jobs in their preferred area, and so end up working as computer technicians, or in organisations’ IT or Information Systems department, installing software applications, and helping staff members to resolve computer-related issues they might be having. Essentially, the skills they learnt at schools and around which they would have liked to build their careers, are not being used in the workplace, and to varying degrees, may eventually atrophy.
In a completely different vein, there is also the case where international companies, or even local companies are looking for specific skills, and either are unable to find candidates that possess the skills and expertise needed, or if they are able to source suitable candidates, the numbers are too few, thus limiting the viability of the project. For local ventures looking for certain skills that cannot be readily found in-country, that is often when outsourcing to India or to Eastern European countries becomes a consideration.
Arguably, this type of scenario is occurring more frequently, but its source is a ‘chicken-or-egg’ conundrum. How can we build the talent pool if a steady pipeline of demand does not readily exist? And at the same time, how can we maintain or foster the demand if the desired talent is not readily available and in the numbers needed?
It is worth mentioning that generally, and across the region, IT roles are not well-compensated. As a result, individuals engage in a number of side hustles to augment their income. Further, and due to the organisations’ unwillingness to provide or support training programmes for their IT staff, in many countries a lot of poaching occurs, with individuals moving from position to position for a marginal increases in salary.
The reality of the brain drain
Brain drain is a reality across the Caribbean, and although roles, such as teaching and nursing readily come to mind, as developed countries actively recruited Caribbean teachers and nursing,. However, IT and other tech personnel are also actively seeking more lucrative and fulfilling opportunities outside their home countries, which has resulted in the loss of some of the best and brightest minds in the space.
It is also worth mentioning that although there are IT individuals who emigrate, which is the traditional form of brain drain, increasingly, and with the internet, along with the gig work and remote work constructs, more individuals are opting to work online. Hence although they remain in-country, their skills and expertise are not available to the local market, which arguably is another form of brain drain.
In summary, although IT talent is available in the Caribbean region, it could be argued that the enabling environment needed for it to flourish, and to fulfil the needs of the market, is still underdeveloped. However, in light of the rapid and varied technological advancements that are being experienced, and are in the process of becoming mainstream, it is increasingly likely that the region will not be able to fully leverage the opportunities that are beginning to emerge – unless a cogent and concerted effort is made to address the challenges that this crucial industry is experiencing.
Image credit: Piqsels
