From behind the big pond: How to overcome the lack of IT skills

Lack of workers with IT skills is an increasing challenge for companies that want to keep up with dynamic technological developments. This is confirmed by the latest Revature report ‘State of IT Skills Survey 2025’, conducted in December 2024 between 230 IT and HR managers of large companies (over 10,000 employees) in the US. 77% of respondents say their companies suffer from a lack of IT skills. These results are also relevant for Europe and Slovakia, where companies are struggling with similar problems, so it is useful to look at solutions from abroad.

Results of the Revature report

The Biggest Challenges in Acquiring IT Professionals

The main problems mentioned by respondents are the difficulty of verifying the technical skills of candidates (42%) and the strong competition on the labour market (42%). They are closely followed by the high salary requirements of the candidates (41%). 37% of managers are concerned about the lack of candidates with the right professional skills, while the same number report a lack of soft skills. High staff turnover (34%), low diversity of candidates (33%) and too long recruitment process (16%) are also problems.

How do companies plan to address IT skills mismatches?

56% of companies plan to invest in upskilling and reskilling their employees through online learning platforms. Mentoring and coaching programmes are planned by 47% of organisations. Interestingly, 43% of companies plan to outsource IT services instead of building internal capacity, and 38% are considering recruiting skilled workers from abroad, as well as using temporary workers. Only 24% of firms build partnerships with educational institutions and only 2% of firms plan no action.

This means that almost half of organisations address the IT skills gap by shifting responsibilities outside their structures – either shifting the problem (IT outsourcing) or shifting the solution (talent import). The reasons why companies choose to outsource or recruit from abroad can vary. This may be an attempt to quickly fill the capacity gaps. Another reason may be the global strategy of companies that are increasingly oriented towards international teams and remote work. Finally, it cannot be ruled out that some firms lack confidence in the ability of the local education system to train a sufficient number of qualified professionals.

If the situation is so tense in the US, which has one of the most advanced technology sectors in the world, the question arises as to the prospects of low-skilled or disadvantaged candidates in Slovakia – especially if they lack access to a flexible retraining system and orientation on which skills will be most in demand on the labour market.

What obstacles stand in the way of effective education?

The main barrier (53%) is ensuring quality and relevant training content. Many companies (49%) also have a problem with not seeing the specific benefits of training for achieving their business goals. A further 47 % lack continuous employee training and 46 % struggle with a lack of time and capacity to train employees. A large proportion of companies (41%) also perceive a problem in the practical application of acquired knowledge, 32% struggle with a lack of funding for education and up to 30% report low interest of employees.

What skills are most in demand?

In terms of professional skills, companies are most likely to seek specialists in artificial intelligence, generative AI and machine learning (29%). This is followed by data analytics, cloud solutions and cybersecurity (15% each). Among soft skills, adaptability and flexibility (29%), the ability to lead a team (28%), the ability to creatively solve problems (13%) and effective communication (11%) are the most valued.

AI as part of the solution

75% of IT and HR managers say they are ready to introduce new technologies, including generative AI. At the same time, 63% believe that GenAI will positively impact companies' ability to educate employees, and 56% expect AI to help them identify suitable employees as part of their recruitment process. Interestingly, even though companies plan to deploy AI-powered tools on a large scale, up to 60% of firms plan to expand their workforce by 2025.

Opportunity for employees in Slovakia

The mismatch in employees' IT skills is not only an American phenomenon. This is a global and therefore also a Slovak problem. The problem is felt mainly among companies, while employees can turn the situation into an opportunity.  Of course, only those who are willing to expand their skills. If you are an employee and want to take advantage of changes in the labour market for career advancement , the Digital Coalition can also help you , thanks to the Digital Counsellor project . Sign up today, get to know your strengths and get professional career advice. The project is funded by European Union funds. The number of places is limited.

Author of the text: Miloš Moravčík