Retour 19% of EU enterprises employ ICT specialists

Print 19% of EU enterprises employ ICT specialists

9 February 2022

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In 2020, 19% of all enterprises with at least 10 employees and self-employed people in the EU employed ICT specialists. 

Among EU Member States, the shares of enterprises employing ICT specialists were highest in Belgium and Ireland (both 30%), followed by Denmark, Hungary and Malta (all 29%). On the other hand, the shares of enterprises employing ICT specialists were lowest in Italy (13%), Romania, Lithuania and Bulgaria (all 16%). 

 

Bar graph: Enterprises that employ ICT specialists, 2020, as % of enterprises with at least 10 employees and self-employed people, in the EU and EFTA countries

Source dataset: isoc_ske_itspen2

 

While over three-quarters of large enterprises in the EU employed ICT specialists (76%), they were employed in less than half of medium-sized enterprises (42%) and in less than a fifth of small enterprises (14%). 

Furthermore, the highest proportions of enterprises employing ICT specialists were in information and communication activities (72% of enterprises), professional, scientific and technical activities (30%), and the electricity, gas, steam, air conditioning and water supply sector (26%). On the other hand, the smallest proportions of enterprises employing ICT specialists were in construction activities (8%), accommodation activities and the retail trade sector (both 12%). 

This article is being published on the occasion of the EU Industry Days. This is a flagship annual event, highlighting industrial frontrunners and ongoing industrial policy discussions whilst improving the knowledge base of European industry.

For more information:

  • ICT specialists are defined as persons who have the ability to develop, operate and maintain ICT systems and for whom ICTs constitute the main part of their job.
  • Enterprises are broken down into size classes according to number of employees and self-employed persons: 10-49 (small enterprises), 50-249 (medium enterprises), 250+ (large enterprises), 10+ (total). Enterprises in this article exclude the financial sector. 
  • Eurostat Statistics Explained article on hard-to-fill vacancies in enterprises
  • Eurostat Statistics Explained article on ICT specialists in employment
  • Eurostat Statistics Explained article on ICT sector - value added, employment and R&D
  • Eurostat dedicated section on Digital economy and society
  • Eurostat database on Digital economy and society

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