Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

New York to draft in 250 IT contractors because state staff 'lack talent'

Tech workers not able to keep up with new systems, we're told

New York state officials say they are having to hire outside consultants to work on their systems because the state's own IT personnel lack the skills to manage newer technology.

This according to testimony from the state's head of civil service, Lola Brabham, who told a state budget committee that the state's in-house IT department "doesn't always have the cutting-edge skills ... or the talent," and that 250 contractors will need to be hired for specific positions.

According to the Albany Times Union, Brabham made the comments while explaining to state lawmakers the plan to hire the contractors to work a five-year term for the state, without first requiring that they pass the New York civil service exams.

In order to bring inhouse the skills to work on the specialized systems, Brabham argued, contractors will need to be hired from outside the pool of exam-taking applicants and state IT staff, who are primarily trained to oversee the older systems on which many state offices still run.

The testimony came as part of a larger hearing on Governor Andrew Cuomo's budget plans for the year.

A skills gap has long been seen as one of the top issues facing both private and public IT organizations. First over the shortfalls in training programs, and more recently in the ability of specially skilled IT workers to land jobs that would make use of their expertise.

New York is not alone in its troubles with finding qualified in-house candidates for government work. Last year, the UK encountered a similar problem when it tried to lower its reliance on contracted firms and "insource" IT operations. ®

 

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like