Are you logical, analytical and good at solving problems? Are you interested in how computers and software work? If you think you’d like to write the computer programmes that control aircraft systems, make sure that financial data is secure or design and install big computer networks, then this could be the industry for you.
According to Scottish Development International, there are over 83,000 people employed across Scotland’s digital and technology industries, and 10,395 registered businesses in the technology sector. These businesses engage in a variety of activities from software development to communications.
There are many different sectors in the computing and ICT industry and you would usually specialise in a particular area. These include computer programming and software engineering, IT support, IT security, systems analysis and design, networks, database administration and web and multimedia.
Some areas of this industry are related to engineering, such as electrical and electronics work.
To see the routes to getting into each of these sectors, take a look at our Career Pathway.
Data collected from the ScotlandIS Scottish Technology Industry Survey 2023 indicates the technology sector is still growing, with 64% of companies reporting a boost in sales, while 52% reported an increase in profits.
In the same survey, the demand for the recruitment of university graduates increased from the previous year, with 81% of businesses reporting that they are definitely or quite likely to recruit graduates in the next 12 months (an increase of 5%). Interest in recruiting college graduates has also increased, from 52% in the previous year to 65%.
The businesses that responded in the survey reported seeing the greatest opportunities for their business over the next 12 months in cyber security (46%), followed by data analytics (45%), and artificial intelligence (43%).
By 2025, ‘esports’ – the world of competitive, organised video gaming – is predicted to grow to be worth £1.4 billion. In Dundee, already known for its gaming expertise, there are plans to develop a 4,000 capacity esports arena as part of the £1 billion waterfront development, with the aim of opening in 2025.
According to research in the Tech Nation People and Skills Report 2022, tech job opportunities have hit a 10-year high in the UK. In Scotland, tech vacancies have risen to 13% of all available vacancies. Hiring is 42% higher than in 2021.
There is still room for improvement in the employment of females in the tech sector. 50% of workers in the UK labour market are women, but in the technology sector, it is just 26%. Stemettes and Next Tech Girls are just some of the initiatives encouraging more young women to consider a career in the industry.
If you are considering a career in IT, take a look at Tech Skills Careers and the Screen Skills website, which has information on job roles in the computer games sector.
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