Talent Shortage: The Stumbling Block for the Peruvian IT Industry

By: Francisco Sales, Director of Services for Vertiv Latin America

In the last 20 years, Latin America has experienced a digital revolution that has transformed how we work and interact with the world. In Peru, this transformation has put the country in a critical position: we are witnessing the immense potential of technology, but also the barriers we face in fully harnessing it. One of the biggest obstacles? The shortage of specialized and qualified talent.

The International Labour Organization projects that, by 2025, Peru will need 80,000 technology professionals. Meanwhile, ManpowerGroup’s 2024 Talent Shortage Survey indicates that 65% of Peruvian employers are struggling to find candidates with the necessary skills to fill vacancies in various sectors, including technology. As long as this paradoxical mismatch between the supply and demand for professionals persists, the sector’s growth will continue.

At Vertiv, we believe it's necessary to implement programs that include strategic alliances with universities and technical institutes to attract new talent, as well as specific training programs for employees that promote the development of existing talent. For example, the Peruvian government established the National Digital Talent Platform, which aims to foster training in technological skills.

If predictions hold true, the talent shortage threatens the competitiveness of companies and the economic development of the country, especially in the data center sub-sector, which is at the heart of digitalization in the country.

The current lack of specialized educational programs and the disconnect between academia and labor market needs limit technical skill development in areas such as IT management, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure maintenance. However, as universities and other educational stakeholders identify these needs and establish training programs, this gap should not be an insurmountable obstacle.

Initiatives like the National Digital Talent program mentioned above demonstrate that it is possible to change scarcity projections through joint efforts and a clear vision. If we manage to strengthen local capabilities, we could position Peru not just as a participant, but as a leader in the region.