According to Dr. Milena Seržantė, the Director of the Strategic Partnership Center at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), the number of students applying to engineering and technology programs has increased by as much as 22% this year. Additionally, the choice of Computer Science (13%) and Mathematics (21%) programs continues growing.
"Every year, we see more and more students interested in pursuing master's studies, which essentially signals the society's desire to invest in education and sometimes provides an opportunity to choose a new career path or requalify. Furthermore, the number of international students has significantly increased over the past five years," says Dr. Seržantė.
The expert adds that there is indeed a noticeable shortage of technology specialists in the job market, influenced by several key factors: "The advent of artificial intelligence, big data, Industry 5.0, cloud computing, and other innovations in the world and in Lithuania have a significant impact on the job market situation. We clearly feel a shortage of technology sector specialists and increasing demand for them. Businesses are increasingly engaging with the academic community because technology specialists are primarily trained by higher education institutions."
In a recent survey conducted at VILNIUS TECH, where one-third of the respondents were students in the fields of computer science and mathematics, it was revealed that over 80% of them began working during their studies. Furthermore, almost 60% of respondents claimed to have found their first job immediately in their field of study. According to her, some of the most popular and well-paid professions in these fields include IT, aviation, energy, electronics, finance and economics, analytics, transportation, and civil engineering.
Employers themselves are taking measures to address the shortage of technology specialists. Some technology companies in the country already offer internship programs, establish special academies for beginner specialists, and provide opportunities for people looking to switch careers. In the face of a shortage of employees, companies prioritize not only technical skills but also suitability for the organization and values.
According to Evelina Žulonė, Talent Acquisition Manager at "Tele2," internship programs help businesses find talented newcomers. She cites the example of the "Tele2" Network Department, which successfully hired three interns who had completed their internships with the company. According to her, the uniqueness of young specialists lies in their eagerness to learn and improve, their initiative, and their curiosity.
"When a new colleague with no experience joins, long-time members of the organization have the opportunity to share their experience, train the newcomer, and learn new things themselves. Each person in the team brings innovation: new ideas to established processes, a unique perspective, and solutions," she believes.
