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 %).
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