Information technology and computing: characteristics of the workforce

IT and computing professionals are generally more highly educated than other workers: Just over 50% of IT and telecoms professionals hold an undergraduate or higher level degree (or equivalent). Only 26% of those employed in other occupations are thought to do so. In recent years there has been a decline in the number of young people studying technology at school and university.

IT and computing is a male-dominated industry, in 2010 women only made up 18% of the workforce. This gender imbalance is not unique to the UK and can be seen throughout Europe and the rest of the world. It is also apparent in the UK that ethnic minorities are underrepresented: according to recent E-skills research, 86% of the workforce describes themselves as ‘white', while 8% describe themselves as Asian/Asian-British

In 2009, almost 30,000 non-EU technology workers entered the country under intra-company transfers. With the coalition government's recently proposed restrictions on student visas (and thus fewer work permits) this annual figure is likely to decrease.

In terms of GVA contribution per head, an individual working in the IT and computing sector is almost twice as productive as the average UK worker.