Companies struggling to fill mainframe skills gap

Companies struggling to fill mainframe skills gap

Mainframe devs also struggle to meet changing needs of business

By | Computerworld UK | Published 12:59,

Companies are struggling to fill the skills shortage in mainframe development as existing staff retire and IT students are put off from the unattractive development environment, according to research.

Market research firm Vanson Bourne questioned 520 CIOs internationally about mainframe use in their enterprises, including 100 in the UK. The research, on behalf of Compuware, found that "a stagnant mainframe development environment impacts developer productivity" and in turn "reduces IT efficiency".

More than half (56 percent) of respondents said that mainframe developers - continually challenged to do more with less in a rapidly evolving IT environment - were struggling to meet the changing needs of the business. At the same time, 69 percent believed that a lack of change in the mainframe environment is turning IT graduates off from mainframe development.

Businesses are supporting new technology like mobility and cloud computing at a record pace, forcing mainframe teams to contend with the added workload of quickly and successfully integrating new applications with legacy mainframe applications.

Kris Manery, senior vice president and general manager of mainframe solutions at Compuware, said: "This rise in mainframe development coupled with a lack of new developers puts teams at risk of becoming less effective in supporting the applications that are critical to today's world economy."

The survey also showed that 46 percent of CIOs had no plans in place to address mainframe developer shortages. In addition, high acquisition costs (60 percent), complex integration (54 percent) and high training and implementation costs (45 percent) are preventing businesses from modernising their mainframe environment.

Computerworld recently questioned IT leaders about the lack of certain IT skills in the jobs market, and mainframe ones figured.

Comments

  • strphen There is NO shortage of experienced Information Technology peopleThe problem is companies do not want to pay for our experience hence the growth and demand for H1B visa holders At 1000 hour there is s shortage of people at 10000 there is no shortage of people
  • Flats This article is rubbish I am working far from home and my wife on a contract because there is nothing in New England that I can find
  • Andrew Cochrane WOW - This is a really interesting article and quite relevant as I am currently trying to source a Mainframe Storage Support Engineer for Canberra Australia There are people but few and far between so anyone interested in a contract initially for 12 months paying 700 per day it would be great to hear from you for a confidential discussion about the role I am also happy to hear feedback on whether this is arealisticsalary for someone working on the day to day
  • Steve T This is MBM - management by magazine Articles ofpersuasion propaganda if you will which create panic for IT leaders There are thousands of IT mainframe people looking for jobs with good salaries and benefits The IT recruiter process software filters out good candidates because they lack the understanding that the more specific the filter the less the return They are too lazy to read the resumes and they create the void themselves The mainframe SERVER is the best option and most efficient choice for scalability and reliability in a 24 X 7 environment
  • Haneli Im a South African with 20 years of mainframeexperience The biggest problem your age All thesepackages on the market that you dont actually need real programming skills for is a far better option for the young Mainframe is verychallenging taken intoconsiderationrun time cost of CPU database layout and much more Also been out of the market for more than 2 years and struggling to find a job Most of the big companies with lots of data use the mainframe the front-end can be what you want it to be but the mainframe is the one doing the work Subtracting the data in the quickest way possible and sending it back that is the challenge How many times do you have to hear the words the computer is slow please wait I also feel that there is more than enough mainframe programmers out there without a job butoutsourcingto India and other places make it very difficult to find a position Look at their coding a hair raising experience no wonder people lose interest in mainframeThis is a topic that really need more attention and feedbackEnjoy
  • Vinbag Absolutely I challenge anyone looking for mainframe skills to call me
  • Jgrnwld11 This article has to be a hoax There are so many mainframers out there without a job that this has to be some kind of joke Antony Savvas youre joke is not funny
  • Darren total rubbish Im an UK cobol developer and have been out of work for 2 years and know dozens in the same position its the lack of BUSINESS skills thats the problem as employers are demanding the right business fit Theres even one company asking for very specific credit card experience and fluent spanish its when they cant fill these specialist positions that they go to India to find someone without the skills but a 14 the price
  • zalek I just wonder were Leo King lives On the Moon On the MarsHey Leo - how is the weather on the MarsIn the US we have thousands of American unemployed Mainframe programmers who were replaced by cheaper foreign programmers thanks to wonderfull H1BL1 visa programHere is a lesson how to replace American programmers by a cheaper foreignerhttpwwwyoutubecomwatchvAnd who is supportin H1B visasDemocratshttpwwwyoutubecomwatchvRepublicanshttpwwwyoutubecomwatchvHave a happy voting
  • Wjanulin There is still plenty of talent out there A number of us retirees seek consulting work The companies just do not want to pay the money
  • MikeC Good excuse to bring in H1B or send work off shore Theres no shortage of skilled mainframe workers Just a shortage of IT workers willing to work for minimum wage
  • Celyl BS
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