Skills for the IT Services Industry in Latecomer Countries

This paper identifies the core factors and conditions that must be considered in generating latecomer country economic growth through advancing IT services and business services activity. The aim is to build a framework for understanding the links between industrial policy, the IT services sector, the labour market for high level ICT skills, and the education system in latecomer countries. Governance, policy, economic and technology factors will determine growth potential in the ICT sector. Government has a primary role to play in graduating workers with intermediate to high level skills, with industry playing a secondary but no less important role with workplace training and ongoing professional development. Given this context, this article argues the necessity for government to intervene in education to promote key sectors such as IT services. The capacity of the national education and training system to produce and reproduce skilled labour is critical. A compact between industry, government and higher education, as well as commitment and tight coordination are needed for expansion of the ICT services sector. International comparative analysis of the economic growth and employment generation potential of latecomer country IT services sectors is important given the inclusive impact of global conditions on any industry irrespective of country location. In concluding, the paper considers the options for comparative analysis between countries in the Pacific Asia and Southern Africa regions.