The European Union has set its member states an extremely ambitious goal: by 2030, the number of IT specialists should double to 20 million, representing 10% of total employment. Achieving this target is not only expected to strengthen Europe’s digital economy but also to secure a stronger position in the global technology race. However, the reality is proving much more complex. Eurostat data shows that at the current growth rate, reaching the EU’s vision will be very difficult. A similar tension between aspirations and limitations is also visible in Poland’s SME sector, which faces staffing shortages, limited budgets, and difficulties in implementing IT projects.
Growth Dynamics in IT Employment
According to Eurostat, in 2024 there were 10.3 million IT specialists in the EU, accounting for 5% of the total workforce. The growth rate is currently only +0.2 percentage points annually – five times slower than the EU’s digital development strategy requires.
Experts from the Polish Economic Institute emphasize that at this pace, the EU’s target will be extremely difficult to achieve. The main barriers include staff shortages, too few graduates in technical fields, and intensifying competition for talent on the job market.
The Polish Perspective: SME Challenges
Within the broader European context, the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises in Poland is particularly striking. According to the Polcom report “Digital Transformation of the SME Sector in 2024–2026. IT Investments, Cloud and New Technologies”, only 11% of companies have completed most or all of their planned IT investments, while 58% have completed only part of their projects. One in five investments (20%) proved unsuccessful or exceeded budget. The biggest problem, however, lies in limited resources and the lack of competencies in specific IT areas.
– According to Polcom’s data, as many as 66% of IT managers point to the lack of digital competencies and specialized staff as the main barrier to implementing IT projects. In practice, this means that companies want to invest in technological innovation, but they lack people capable of deploying new technologies – noted Adam Matyaszek, Sales Director at Polcom. – An additional challenge is the budget. In small companies, over half of IT funds – precisely 56% – are consumed by ongoing maintenance and salaries, leaving little for new projects such as cloud migration or AI development – he added.
Investment Priorities and Positive Effects
Despite the difficulties, entrepreneurs clearly define their priorities for 2025–2026. According to Polcom’s data, advanced data analytics is the top focus, with 81% of companies planning to invest in it. Next comes cloud migration (62%) and cybersecurity (56%).
– The effects of completed initiatives are already visible. 82% of firms reported improved process efficiency, 81% faster responses to market changes, 66% lower operating costs, and 49% enhanced competitive advantage. This shows that even partial technology implementations deliver tangible business results and strengthen companies’ resilience to market fluctuations – commented Matyaszek.
Although the EU goals set a clear direction for development, the reality – both at the European and national levels – reveals serious limitations. Without intensified labor market measures and greater support for SMEs, achieving “Digital Europe 2030” will be extremely challenging. At the same time, rising awareness among entrepreneurs, greater availability of cloud solutions – including AI as a Service and automation – and visible business benefits suggest that the foundation for a digital economy has already been laid. If this trend is properly reinforced and supported by adequate actions, Polish SMEs could not only meet EU goals but also build lasting competitive advantages in the region.
Source: CEO.com.pl
