This year will see initiatives launched to combat a skills shortages in the New Zealand IT industry, it is claimed.

Brett O'Riley, head of industry association the New Zealand Information & Communications Technology Group (NZICT), has made his top ten predictions for the sector for 2011 for Computerworld.co.nz.

He explained a talent crisis is emerging and more people are needed to fill IT jobs in New Zealand in order to promote growth, with a Jobs Partnership scheme aiming to help young candidates to obtain training and internships and a Skills Working Group being established.

The expert added key issues within the industry over the coming 12 months will include the rollout of fibre-based broadband services, increases in domestic productivity, solutions for the health and education markets and export growth led by China.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Software and Services Companies in India is also predicting the sector will expand significantly in 2011, with strong growth in overseas and domestic trade forecast.

Posted by Sarah Dixon