Shortage of RFID-skilled lessens, but still a problem
There is a boom in the use of RFID technology, but the very radpidity of the technology’s proliferation has brought about shortage in skilled RFID-skilled technicians
Looking for a career change? How about becoming an RFID technician? RFID is everywhere — on pellets carrying merchandize to Wal-Mart, on supplies to the Pentagon, on locks guarding cargo containers against infringement, in the ears of cattle and sheep, and in new passports and travel documents. The boom in RFID usage has created acute shortages of technology workers skilled in the technology. This shortage is lessening, but the lack of talent continues to hamper deployment of the technology, a new survey by the Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based Computing Technology Industry Association reveals.
More than two-thirds of the organizations surveyed by CompTIA (68.8 percent) believe there is an insufficient pool of RFID talent from which to hire. That figure is down slightly from the previous two years (75 percent in 2006 and 80 percent in 2005).
Among companies that believe there is a shortage of RFID talent, 68 percent said that the lack of workers skilled in RFID will impact the adoption of the technology. That’s down from 2006, when 80 percent of responding organizations said the skill shortage was impacting RFID adoption. In 2005, the figure was 53 percent.
“The skills shortage is not the most significant factor in the relatively slow adoption of RFID, but it is a contributing factor,” said David Sommer, CompTIA vice president for e-business and software solutions. “Had RFID adoption taken hold at a higher level, the skills shortage would be even more pronounced.”
Sommer noted that while RFID adoption may not have occurred at the rate many sources predicted, usage is growing at a modest, steady pace. “The number of RFID pilot programs, tests and closed-loop deployments designed to address specific business problems continues to grow,” he said.
Technology News Daily reports that CompTIA and its members are addressing the skills shortage by using an industry developed and accepted credential that validates a technician’s knowledge and skills in the areas of installation, maintenance, repair, and upkeep of hardware and software functionality of RFID products.
