APDIP e-Note 13 on ICT Skill Development in the Asia-Pacific Region

As the first in a series of two complementing APDIP e-Notes, this APDIP e-Note summarizes the major findings and conclusions of a recent study on ICT human resource development in the Asia Pacific region, undertaken at UNESCAP. The conclusions of this study indicate the emergence of an increasing gap between the demand and supply of ICT skills in the region.

The developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region have, during the last ten years, experienced phenomenal growth in the development of their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry and in the consumption of ICT products following the exponential growth in the ICT penetration in the urban centres of the region. The Asia-Pacific region is emerging as the major source of ICT products to the world. This increasing growth is followed by an increasing demand for an ICT literate work force.

This APDIP e-Note outlines to what extend ICT skills are becoming more and more essential in both the ICT using and ICT supplying sectors. It outlines the dynamics creating the demand supply imbalance, and what factors generate the differences in available ICT skills and the demand for them. At a strategic level it discusses how to achieve a balance in the supply and demand in ICT skills and what actions policy makers can take to increase the existing ICT skill supply.

To highlight possible solutions for bridging the gap between ICT skill demand and supply this e-Note will be followed up by a second e-Note elaborating on the discussions on the topic at the APCICT ICT Human Resource Development Forum held on 5th and 6th March 2007 at Incheon, Republic of Korea.

APDIP e-Notes are brief snapshots that present analyses of specific issues related to ICT for sustainable human development in the Asia- Pacific region. This online series introduces readers to the who, what, where, why and how of a wide range of current issues related to ICT such as Internet governance, ICT and poverty reduction, e- governance, free and open source software, and many others.

This APDIP e-Note is written by Ravi Raina, Regional Advisor ICT, UNESCAP.

Related Links

APDIP e-Note 17 - ICT Skill Development in the Asia-Pacific Region - Part two: Bridging the gap between demand and supply, Ravi Raina, 2007 [PDF, 208kB]

APDIP e-Note 13 - ICT Skill Development in the Asia-Pacific Region - Part one: the gap between demand and supply, Ravi Raina, 2007 [PDF, 258kB]

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Last modified 2007-08-27 01:42 PM