The UK will need thousands more workers with IP telephony, mobile and security skills by 2008.

A survey of European CIOs by IDC for Cisco has found demand for people with these skills is likely to outstrip availability by about 40,000 people in the UK. Across Europe there will be a shortfall of half a million people.

Nick Watson, MD for Enterprise at Cisco UK, said: "We went to 950 CIOs and asked them what they expected their requirements to be. It's not general IT training the UK needs but very specific skills"

Watson warned that many in the industry will find their job function increasingly automated by 2008 and that these people need to start retraining soon. The hottest areas are around IP convergence, security and wireless.

Watson also said: "There is a need for a different kind of person who can translate technology into business use - not high powered consultancy stuff but simple common sense. We've got people with fantastic technical skills and business leaders who can see what is possible but we need a new breed who can translate what is technically possible into real business use."®