Montenegro’s information technology sector is facing a significant shortage of skilled professionals, particularly software engineers, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning experts and mobile application developers, as revealed by a recent analysis from the Chamber of Commerce (PKCG).
The findings were presented at a roundtable discussion titled IT Professions and the Education System: Connecting Market Needs and Education, organized by PKCG as part of an initiative by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, the Innovation Fund, and the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro.
Mladen Perazić, Director of PKCG’s Education Sector, stated that the IT sector already has a substantial impact on the labor market, and its expansion is expected to continue in the future.
“Analyses conducted in collaboration with companies in this sector show a continuous rise in demand for skilled and qualified professionals,” Perazić said, emphasizing the role of the Chamber in promoting vocational education and improving the cooperation between the economy and the educational system.
PKCG is involved in several international projects focused on vocational education, with Perazić particularly highlighting the EmployVET initiative, aimed at developing more efficient models for involving employers in the creation of vocational education programs that better meet the changing needs of the labor market.
He urged employers to contribute to creating quality educational curricula to help students integrate into the workforce more quickly.
Marijeta Barjaktarović Lanzardi, Acting Director of the Directorate for Digital Economy and Technological Development, underscored the importance of information and communication technologies (ICT) for the development of both the economy and education, noting that new demands are constantly arising in these sectors.
She emphasized the need for adopting a reform agenda to strengthen human resources, with a strategy for smart specialization and analysis of educational programs.
“Our starting point is consultations with those who truly need these skills,” Barjaktarović Lanzardi said, highlighting PKCG’s cooperation in identifying priority needs in the ICT sector. She also noted the goal of not only addressing current demands but also introducing globally recognized skills to further boost the competitiveness of the local economy.
During the presentation of the research findings, Nada Rakočević, Secretary of the ICT Committee at PKCG, shared that the study, conducted on a sample of 57 companies, provides key data on the most sought-after IT professions and market trends.
According to Rakočević, the study showed that software engineers are currently the most in-demand profession, as confirmed by 66.7% of respondents. Other highly sought-after profiles include mobile application developers, as well as AI and machine learning engineers, who occupy a significant position in market interest.
One of the biggest challenges in hiring, as highlighted in the analysis, is the lack of practical experience among candidates, which makes it difficult to find suitable employees.
“The misalignment of educational programs with industry needs exacerbates this issue, and the shortage of specialized professionals in fields such as cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure is becoming more pronounced,” Rakočević noted.
Valentina Radulović, Executive Director of the Science and Technology Park, emphasized that this analysis represents a critical step toward solving these problems, expressing gratitude to entrepreneurs for their response and contribution.
“The goal is to strengthen the competitiveness of the IT industry and promote lifelong learning. The key findings are not surprising — we need more specialists, as well as opportunities for upskilling, reskilling, and practical experience,” Radulović stated.
During the subsequent discussion, one of the main challenges identified was the lack of practical knowledge and experience among young professionals, highlighting the need for more intensive student involvement in practical work during their studies, through partnerships with IT companies.
“Education should involve at least 50% practical experience and participation in projects, with mentors from the private sector,” the business representatives stated.
The conclusion was that ongoing collaboration between educational institutions, the private sector, and the government is essential for aligning educational programs with labor market needs.
“This synergy enables the creation of practical solutions through training, the development of flexible educational programs, and improvements in educational policies, all of which contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic economy and the development of the IT sector,” the statement concludes.
