The pending talent crisis within the technology industry is of significant concern to technology organisations, the recent Deloitte Technology Fast 500 CEO Survey has revealed.
With the baby boomer generation reaching retiring age, international CEOs cite chronic shortages of talent as one of their greatest concerns, said Damien Tampling, Deloitte technology media and telecommunications industry group leader.
Like the CEOs surveyed, Tampling agrees the talent shortage will last for decades and that this poses a major crisis for the industry globally, and particularly in Australia.
"Over half of the companies surveyed said they plan to expand their workforce by more than 25%, with the vast majority wanting to grow organically," he said.
"However, all agree the biggest challenge to companies is "˜finding, hiring and retaining qualified employees'.
"CEOs have made talent their top personal challenge to develop the next generation of leaders, however a large number express concern about the focus of national education systems.
"As a result, we are seeing that views on offshoring have changed substantially. Offshoring is now not seen as cut-rate labour supply, but as a valuable source of talent that is not available back home," Tampling concluded.