Resilience through talent: addressing shortages in the MediaTech industry
Ana-Claire Bernardes, Content Evangelist, IABM
In the ever-evolving landscape of MediaTech, the industry faces a significant challenge: a shortage of skilled talent. This issue is not only impeding growth but also hampering innovation , stifling creativity, and impacting the bottom line, as the scarcity of talent drives up hiring costs. To combat this, it is essential to understand the complexities of talent shortages and resilience within the industry and to actively implement strategies to attract, retain, and develop talent.
Our latest internal research, comprising a comprehensive survey and a series of interviews with MediaTech professionals, reveals five key pillars of the challenges and potential solutions to this pressing issue.
Awareness
- Increase awareness of career opportunities in MediaTech.
- Implement educational initiatives, forge industry partnerships, and engage in outreach programs to attract potential talent.
Working Conditions
- Foster a positive environment that includes flexible working arrangements and ample opportunities for career development.
- Develop and enforce policies to tackle unacceptable workplace behavior, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all employees.
Education
- Partner with educational establishments to ensure that courses are kept up to date and align with the technical skills needed by the industry.
- Collaborate with governments to develop and secure investment in MediaTech education initiatives, ensuring long-term growth and development.
Training
- Collaborate to develop training initiatives aligned with industry needs and best practices.
- Establish mentorship networks, industry-driven internships, apprenticeship schemes, and open learning resources to provide ongoing support and development for employees.
DEI Initiatives
- Reach out to underrepresented groups through collaborative Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
- Ensure that training, development, and support are made available to as many people as possible, promoting an inclusive and diverse workforce.
These strategies are critical, as our recent report highlights some pivotal issues:
A staggering 80% of companies in MediaTech report difficulties in finding suitable talent. This challenge is particularly pronounced in areas requiring specialized technical skills and a deep understanding of both IT and television production. The Founder/CEO of a MediaTech Supplier in North America, emphasizes the severity of this issue:
“Our biggest thing in recruiting is finding people that know how software and television mix.”
The trend towards digitalization and the convergence of MediaTech with other technology sectors means that the skills most needed in MediaTech are also in high demand by other sectors. Examples include software, systems architecture, and video engineering.
This gap underscores the need for educational institutions to better align their curricula with industry demands. However, the current education system is failing to equip students with the necessary skills to thrive in the MediaTech industry. An urgent curriculum overhaul is needed to bridge this gap and prepare the future workforce. Additionally, greater collaboration between the MediaTech sector and education system is necessary to enhance mentorship networks and industry-driven internships, creating clear pathways from education to employment. Jorge de la Nuez, Head of Technology & Operations, Olympic Channel, underscores this point: “Internships are available in Spain, but they are not easy to find, especially in public universities. Private universities or hybrid education centers tend to have more opportunities as they seek sponsorships. I’ve noticed a decline in these opportunities within the public education system, which is significant in Spain and likely in other European countries too.”
In conclusion, addressing talent shortages in MediaTech requires a multifaceted approach that includes raising awareness, improving working conditions, revamping educational curricula, developing targeted training programs, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. By implementing these strategies, we can build a resilient workforce capable of driving innovation and sustaining growth in the MediaTech industry.
Our research underscores the need for a coordinated effort between industry leaders, educational institutions, and government bodies to ensure that the MediaTech sector continues to thrive. Through collaborative efforts, we can cultivate the talent that will shape the future of MediaTech, fostering a vibrant, dynamic, and inclusive ecosystem for all.
The full Talent Shortages in MediaTech Megatrend report is available for IABM members, from start-up level to Platinum, to download via the Vantage platform.
