Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted
Government faces major digital skills shortage, requiring double the number of professionals.
Conclusion
There is a major digital skills shortage in the UK and skilled digital professionals command a premium in the market, making it hard for departments to recruit.23 Government estimates that the number of digital, data and technology professionals in the civil service is around 4.5%, less than half the number it needs when compared to an equivalent industry average of between 8% and 12%, and so the number will need to double.24 Departments are facing particular shortages in roles such as data architects and cyber security experts, which are difficult to recruit and where the skills command a premium in the market.25 Government is trying to improve pay for specialist roles, and considers that this is improving the situation.26 However, the Roadmap’s aims will not be achieved and the cost to government will be much more over the longer term if opportunities to transform are delayed or foregone and reliance on legacy systems is prolonged.27
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the Committee's findings on skills shortages and has set a target for 6% of the Civil Service workforce to be DDaT professionals by June 2025. It reports a 19.6% increase in headcount for these roles in 2022-23 and uses Quarterly Business Reviews to monitor and address skill shortage impacts.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: June 2025. 4.2 The government has set a target that at least 6% of the overall workforce of the Civil Service will be members of the Digital, Data and Technology profession by June 2025. This has been endorsed by the Permanent Secretary Digital and Data Board and agreed through a Write Round handling letter. 4.3 Significant progress is already being achieved in growing the size and capability of the digital workforce. Namely, the headcount of civil servants in Digital, Data and Technology roles has increased 19.6% in 2022-23. 4.4 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2025. 4.5 The government agrees that departments should be open and transparent with challenges faced as a result of skills shortages. Emphasis should be placed on overcoming these challenges. 4.6 CDDO runs Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with departments, where regular updates are requested on delivery and the impact of skills shortages. Where possible this is quantified. Based on learnings from these sessions, CDDO communicates any emerging issues to the Permanent Secretary level Digital and Data Board.