Pearson’s latest Skills Outlook report suggests employers can help solve the growing tech talent gap by redesigning roles, upskilling workers, and automating some routine tasks, thereby unlocking trapped value and boosting job security.
In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, the demand for skilled technology professionals is on the rise. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report 2023, 16 of the top 100 ‘Jobs on the Rise’ globally are in IT or Technology-related job families1.
Despite their skills being in demand, tech workers aren’t necessarily feeling secure in their jobs. With an expected churn rate of 29% over the next five years2, the tech industry is both creating and eliminating roles at pace. The presents a unique challenge for businesses: how to bridge the tech talent gap without relying solely on external hiring.
The power of upskilling and redeployment
Pearson’s latest Skills Outlook report, entitled “Solving the Tech Talent Gap from Within”, highlights the potential for businesses to unlock trapped value by automating and augmenting tasks. By creatively and proactively upskilling and redeploying existing talent, companies can address urgent skills gaps while boosting job security for their employees.
Pearson’s research indicates that those working in key tech roles in the US could save around a day a week in five years’ time through the effective use of technologies like Large Language Model (LLM) Chatbots (such as Copilot or ChatGPT) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA). These technologies can automate routine, repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more strategic, innovative, and high-value work.
Redefining roles and responsibilities
To solve the tech talent gap, businesses must rethink roles from the ground up. By identifying which tasks can be automated, and reallocating saved time to more strategic activities, companies can enhance productivity and innovation. Pearson's study focused on five popular and highly valued tech roles across six countries. It analysed how tasks within these roles will change over the next five years due to 34 evolving technologies. It found that by 2029, those working in key tech roles could save around a day a week by using new technologies effectively. For example, in the US:
- Systems Software Developers could save 5.8 hours per week, focusing more on designing innovative software solutions and improving user experience.
- Computer Programmers could save 7.7 hours per week, shifting towards tasks that oversee AI-generated code and optimize chatbot outputs.
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects could save 6 hours per week, moving towards strategic responsibilities like overseeing system integration and long-term infrastructure planning.
- Computer Systems Analysts could save 7.6 hours per week, focusing on predictive analysis and system optimisation.
- Computer Network Architects could save 8.8 hours per week, emphasising network design innovation and cyber resilience planning.
By automating routine tasks, businesses can bridge talent gaps and create the capacity they need without relying solely on external hiring. This not only gives employers and competitive edge but also helps future-proof their workforce.
Embracing the future of work
As technology continues to transform the workplace, organisations that fail to act risk leaving their employees underutilised, undervalued, and unprepared for future challenges. This can stifle innovation, reduce productivity, and weaken competitiveness.
To navigate this, businesses must redesign skilling pathways to be more transparent, personalised, and responsive to the changing world of work. By using technologies like LLM Chatbots and RPA, companies can save time, repurpose talent, and bridge the talent gap from within.
How Pearson can help
Pearson offers future-focused insights, data-led talent planning, and tailored learning solutions to help organizations rethink their talent strategies. With Pearson's Ontology, employers can redesign their workforce to embrace AI, increase productivity, and future-proof their organization. By predicting the impact of emerging technologies on individual tasks and roles, Pearson helps employers reallocate time, repurpose talent, and maximize the value of their workforce.
Solving the tech talent gap is going to need a proactive and creative approach to upskilling and redeploying existing talent. By embracing automation and focusing on strategic, high-value work, businesses can bridge the gap, enhance productivity, and secure their competitive edge in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
[1] 16 of the top 100 ‘Jobs on the Rise’ globally are IT or Technology-related job families (Introduction: the global labour market landscape in 2023 - The Future of Jobs Report 2023 | World Economic Forum).
[2] The sector has an expected ‘churn’ rate (roles created or destroyed) of 29% over five years (WEF Future of Jobs Report 2023).