Job seekers turned off tech jobs due to misperceptions over STEM

Most people believe that they either lack the right qualifications for a tech career or that it would cost too much money to invest in the digital skills required to train for a STEM job, a new IBM survey has found.

The global study, based on the replies of more than 14,000 job seekers across 13 countries, found that 61% felt that they were not qualified for a STEM job because they didn’t have the right degrees.

Another barrier to entry appears to be cost, with 60% of respondents worrying that digital qualifications may be too expensive to obtain.

According to IBM, these findings contrast with market data that employers are investing in the reskilling of their current workforce to keep pace with rapid advances in technology and stay relevant in the modern, digital economy.

“Technology training can have a transformational effect on a person’s life,” said IBM chief impact officer Justina Nixon-Saintil.

“There are many misconceptions about what’s needed to pursue a rewarding and lucrative career in today’s rapidly advancing workplace. This is why we must raise awareness of the breadth of science and technology roles that exist across industries,” she added.

The survey found that 60% of global students and those looking to change career are looking for a new job in the next year while 80% of people will spend the next two years developing their skills, with 90% saying they will turn to online courses to do so.

However, awareness of options around different STEM roles across industries is low, with many (62%) concerned these careers won’t pay enough.

To help tackle some of the barriers surrounding STEM careers and provide people with the skills needed for such roles IBM has teamed up with 45 global education partners through it’s IBM SkillsBuild initiative.

The initiative – which brings free technology training to learners worldwide – has a focus on underrepresented communities in tech and intends to help skill women, including mothers returning to the workforce, ethnic minorities, low-income individuals and refugees.

It comes as the global tech brands continue to reduce headcount in preparation for a potential recession. Last month, IBM itself announced plans to axed 3,900 roles – part of a much wider trend that saw 58,000 layoffs in the US tech industry in January alone.

That’s why TechInformed has taken the wraps off a new jobs board, seeking to connect tech workers with the best tech roles. Check out the jobs board here.