Skills shortage vs. job creation : a review of empirical evidence on the issue of ICTs and employment

The creation of new opportunities for employment is ranking high on the political agenda and in the rhetoric of the European Union. The boom markets of the information and communication industries are regarded as a key area for future employment. The hope for new jobs is nourished by forecasts about future growth in these sectors. Also, studies describing the "IT skills gap", i.e. the quite dramatic lack of IT professionals across countries and sectors, may suggest that a significant number of new jobs are being created. This paper is a contribution to the employment debate. It argues that empirical evidence does not support the theory that information and communication technologies will create enough new employment opportunities to fulfil the "promise of the information society", although the dramatic demand for professionals is obvious. However, the paper argues that a defensive or hesitant strategy regarding policies for digital information and communication technologies will not be beneficial. The most important and practical question to be asked is: How can Europe improve and adapt its system of education and training in order to provide the digital economy with the required type and amount of skilled employees?