The segment of Information Technology (IT) has salaries above the average. Nevertheless, The sector is concerned about the shortage of talent in Uruguay, which forces it to seek trained personnel outside the country.
Salary remuneration in the IT segment They are located in the environment of $ 223,804 for the upper level, of $ 163,387 for the medium level and from $ 76,034 for the dependent level, according to a survey of remunerations of the sector carried out by the consulting firm PwC for the Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technologies (CUTI).
87 companies in the sector participated in the survey. Within these, 64% are large companies, 25% medium and 11% small companies.
In addition, 56% of the companies reported refer to international companies, and the remaining 44% to local firms. Regarding the activity sector, 25% report belonging to the commerce sector, 44% to the services sector and 31% to the industrial sector.
Within this general sample, 11% belong to the technology segment, of which a total of 23 charges were reported. For these positions, specifically technology positions are included, as well as transversal positions hired by technology companies such as, for example, administration and human resources among other support positions.
Ines Guimaraens
Information technology
Taking into account some specific positions in the IT sector, it is found that the average monthly fixed nominal remuneration for the position of dsenior developer equals $ 139,313, while what refers to the average for the position of asystems functional list is equivalent to $ 90 thousand.
Taking the average of the monthly fixed remuneration and comparing between the IT segment and the general sample, it can be seen that, Although the IT segment is slightly higher for the two upper and middle job levels, the differences are not very significant. The reverse occurs with the dependent level, where it is found that the average salary for the IT segment is lower compared to the general sample.
On the other hand, many companies from various sectors of the economy go through digitization processes, in a trend that has not only accelerated in recent decades, but also had a great boost with the arrival of the pandemic in 2020.
It can be seen that not only the IT industry specifically requires human talent specialized in technology, but different companies and organizations increasingly require professionals with skills in technology.
Leonardo Loureiro, president of the CUTI, said to The Observer that with the data of the report carried out by PwC, something was verified that the perception already indicated. “What was shown is that indeed the salaries above the average, the figures validate what we had been thinking. A well-paying job is a worker-friendly job”, He expressed.
The need to attract more talents
However, Loureiro warned that these data also force us to work on other types of problems such as the shortage of talent. According to the holder of the CUTI, at the beginning of the year there was talk that 2,500 people would be needed annually. However, they have already exceeded 3 thousand in the annual frequency and in this year 5 thousand would be needed.
unsplash
Information technology
“Today more people are needed since there is work that we cannot take because we do not have the resources to carry it out. The flip side of this is that if companies accept work with their clients, end up hiring talent and collaborators in other parts of the world, this has been happening more and more”, He explained.
When asked how to solve the talent shortage problem, Loureiro pointed out that it must be done by making decisions in the short, medium and long term. “In the short term, obviously, one could speak of express training or also convincing foreign specialists to come and live in Uruguay.”, He pointed out.
For the president of the CUTI, the arrival of foreigners to work in the sector is positive and “enriching“Since the Uruguayan industry”sell to the world“So it must be”drenched in culture” And be “multicultural”.
The other option to get qualified talents, according to the expert, is “continue to convince young people that it is a good decision to study technology”. The CUTI is conducting awareness campaigns and taking different types of educational offers throughout the country.
In that sense, the CUTI signed last Thursday a cooperation agreement with the General Directorate of Professional Technical Education (DGETP – UTU) that will allow them to generate activities and programs together.
The creation of a Coordinating Commission made up of an equal number of members representing CUTI and DGETP –UTU, which will act as an inter-institutional link and will be in charge of study, prepare and evaluate the results of cooperation programs, projects and activities carried out together (prior approval of the competent authorities of the parties).
Loureiro highlighted that the pandemic helped companies to “lower mental barriers“And realize that”work can be given where there is well-trained talent“
“There were many boys who finished the technological baccalaureate in computer science in different cities of the country and did not have the opportunity to specialize in technical degrees, but neither were companies going to offer them work in their city and that is changing. Today you will meet many people who are working for several of our partner companies from small cities in the interior of Uruguay. Where there is fiber optics, there is work in the technology sector”, He assured.
Ines Guimaraens
Information technology
The myth of mathematics
A myth that has always existed is that of the link between the technological sectors and mathematics, something that in many cases, mainly when students finish high school, It ends up implying a brake or at least generated fear of the option of following the IT path.
Loureiro pointed out that the CUTI is working on a “demystification”Of this type of concepts since although it is true that the sector demands logical thinking and the need to address the resolution of computer problems, mathematics or programming are not mutually exclusive.
“The person does not have to know how to program or have to know mathematics to be able to make an algorithm, there are many things that are myths. I can introduce you to many colleagues from various professions who do not program or do anything very technical but do know a lot about technology, which are two different things, “he said.
According to the expert, it is very important for people who know about a certain profession, learn to take advantage of technology so that your work is more productive and has greater social and environmental impacts with the technology that is being developed. “Multiculturalism is very important to us”, He specified.
“What there is no doubt is that to be a thriving industry like the one we are today we need more doctorates in engineering, masters, bachelor’s degrees but we also need much more from those people who can humanize technology and also creativity and initiative“Said Loureiro.
