Recommendations for the modernisation of IT occupations are available

How have the IT occupations developed since 1997?

Since their introduction in 1997, the four dual IT occupations of information technology specialist, information technology and telecommunications system electronics technician, information and telecommunications system support specialist and information technology officer have been in considerable demand from trade and industry and retain this popularity to the present day. Over the past few years, the number of newly concluded training contracts per year has been around 15,000 and has most recently risen to 16,000.

The training occupation of information technology specialist, which offers two specialisms, has increasingly become a sought after core brand within the IT occupations in recent years. The numbers of trainees entering this occupation more than compensate for the tendency towards a decline in the other three occupations. Between 2015 and 2016, the figures for newly concluded training contracts for the occupation of information technology specialist increased once more by 1,000 to reach a level of more than 12,000.

Since the launch of the IT occupations, around 250,000 skilled IT staff have been trained for work at manufacturing and applications companies offering products and services in the field of information and communication technology. Nevertheless, accelerated spread of digital technology and the networking of all production, administrative and consumption processes are creating new challenges for the IT occupations. These are cross-sectional occupations that, alongside the ICT branch, can also be applied in all other economic sectors and they operate at the interfaces of the digital transformation.

Is there a need to update the IT occupations?

The BMWi instructed BIBB to investigate whether or not the IT occupations needed to be re-regulated in light of developments in technology and work organisation. In order to clarify this, the research issues forming the focus of the preliminary investigation included the following questions.

• Do the existing training regulations take sufficient account of more recent technological and organisational developments within the regulatory instruments that are in place?
• Are the requirements profiles correct?
• Has the structure of the IT occupations proved its worth, for example with regard to the differentiations made thus far?
• Has the examination in the IT occupations stood the test of time?
• Which advanced training options do trained skilled workers pursue in this sector?

Responses to these and other questions are now provided by the final report, one of the foundations of which is an online survey of more than 6,000 human resources and training managers, skilled IT workers and trainees. Alongside responses from the various target groups, the results also contain statements relating to different branches of trade and industry and company sizes. The final report will serve as a basis for further education and training policy debate. The BMWi has requested educational policy stakeholders from the employer and employee organisations to examine the report and its recommendations with regard to the need for regulatory updating.