Catherine Harris

THEY are smart and well paid, but they’re just not cool. That’s the common view of IT workers, which some industry leaders believe is holding the sector back.

Information technology workers are in short supply in New Zealand, and industry leaders are concerned as to why.

Just look at movies such as The Social Network and television shows like The Big Bang Theory, says Greg Davidson, chief executive of Datacom New Zealand. They perpetuate the ‘‘geek’’ image, and they are turning young people off, he says.

‘‘IT workers are incredibly diverse and have an incredibly diverse range of interests.

‘‘But if you consider other professions, there are role models that are held up, and you never see them in IT.’’

By one estimate, New Zealand needs 10,000 IT graduates a year, double the number it currently produces, plus another 12,000 to 15,000 to make up the shortfall.

Demand is such that Trade Me Jobs head Peter Osborne says IT workers are now getting ‘‘rock star’’ salaries.

Four out of five top-paying jobs on Trade Me’s salary scale are IT-related, eclipsing the traditional highestearning occupation, a doctor’s salary.

Despite the great pay, however, industry leaders say public awareness of what IT workers do is dismally low.

Businesses are filling the gaps with overseas workers but the shortage is global, so getting young Kiwis excited at school level is seen to be the key.

Ian McCrae, chief executive of Orion Health, is trying to hire 300 staff for his very successful software business.

Having seen two of his own children go through ‘‘digital technology’’ at high school, he believes young people are being turned off by a boring syllabus.

The bright ones get the