IT potential must be realized

TWO international reports referred to today paint contrasting pictures of the economic realities for this country, both of them with inherent concerns, worrying to different degrees.

One points to a huge drop in foreign investment in this country last year, a trend which continued into the current one. The other, conversely, warns that the country may not be able to capitalise on a potential jobs boom.

According to a UN study, Ireland suffered a massive decrease of 60% in foreign investment representing about $8,000 for every worker in the country.

So dramatic was the fall-off in foreign investment that it can be judged from the fact that Ireland had previously jumped to fourth place from 71, in the UN Conference on Trade and Development in its 2002 World Investment Report.

In the UNCTAD rankings at one stage, Ireland was only behind Belgium-Luxembourg, Hong Kong and Angola, streaking ahead of Britain and the US.

In terms of attracting foreign direct investment, which is an important factor in boosting growth, it is important that countries measure how they are doing today and what their potential for the future is.

That latter advice is particularly salient in regard to the other report, a European survey on the IT sector which is forecast to provide considerable job opportunities here over the next three years.

Even if there is a slowdown, Ireland can expect a growth in the industry which will ultimately lead to the creation of 14,000 jobs, according to the survey commissioned by the Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS).

But because of the perception that the industry peaked two years ago when the dotcom bubble burst, students shied away from it as a career option. Consequently, there was a drop in numbers applying for IT courses through the Central Applications Office.

Ironically, as suggested by the CEPIS report, there will actually be one-and-a-half times more jobs available for IT graduates in three years than today. Unfortunately, at the present rate of students in the relevant courses, the country may not be able to fill the forecasted jobs.

While this may pose problems for computer and IT companies here, the positive future outlined for the industry by the survey should obviously restore the confidence of future potential professionals in it.

The message for the Government, and especially for schools, is to begin to promote in earnest the potential in science and technology.

It is vital to increase the flow of students going into courses that will bring them into the industry in order to avail of the burgeoning employment situation which is anticipated in the near future.

Both the Irish Computer Society (ICS) and the IDA are confident the level of employment projected will eventuate. The ICS believes the report helps to put a realistic perspective on IT skills demand in the context of the current slowdown, and that the forecast about the future is positive.

Although only 3,800 jobs were created in the sector last year, the IDA is reassuring in its belief a boom will happen. The IDA says the industry is prone to going through cycles, from growth to stop and back to surge.

Confidently, the IDA expects the numbers to begin to double from next year.

It is vital that Government and education agencies collaborate to ensure these employment opportunities will be pursued to gain the maximum benefit.