Planning the Attraction and Retention of Young ICT Talents

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are a significant driver of economic development and generate jobs not only for the IT industry, but also for other sectors of the economy. Globally, the shortage of highly skilled labour in the ICT field is increasing and this can affect economic growth. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a further growth in the demand for such specialists. That is why attracting and retaining such experts is a big challenge, especially in small towns and municipalities. To fill this gap, it is necessary that all stakeholders be actively involved with developing local plans for attracting and retaining young ICT talents.The introduction of the present paper presents a global view of the demand for ICT specialists in the EU and in Bulgaria in particular. Under the TalentMagnet project a guide for preparing and governing local talent attraction and retention plans (TARP) is developed. The paper outlines the main aspects of the guide. A study of global challenges associated with the competition for ICT talent is presented. One of the guide chapters analyses how organizational and cooperation models for talent attraction and retention can be built and offers directions for development of successful talent-related partnerships. To attract and retain young ICT talents, building strong partnerships among stakeholders is crucial. Academics at the Telecommunications department of the University of Ruse have extensive experience in such cooperation. The article presents good practices for attracting and retaining young ICT talents. Their specific activities at the local Ruse city level are presented and the contributions for attracting young people to ICT professions are analyzed. Conclusions on the importance of developing a TARP of young ICTs are presented.