An analysis of the current local eSkills gaps and mismatches within the iGaming and financial industries

Abstract

The presence of the eSkills gaps and mismatches concept has spurred a lot of discussion with respect to its existence or not. The concept has been asserted by the business organizations’ representatives yet denied by certain scholars, as documented in the literature review. Although currently budding in Malta, both the gaming and the financial industries experience weaknesses and threats. This has spurred the authors to further study the skills problem, especially due to the fact that as business and IT students they are the future employees of such industries. The study analyses the existence and extent of the eSkills gaps and mismatches problem, in both the gaming and financial industries. The qualitative study was based on online gaming operators as well as insurance companies, brokers and commercial banks. Further study was made with respect to the two regulating authorities responsible of such industries, in order to obtain data from a different perspective. On the other hand, the quantitative study was conducted among relatively new graduates and proximate students who are already working in the mentioned industries, with the intention to assess the educational institutions attended and the level and type of eSkills supplied by them. The study concluded that both the businesses and the authorities are well aware and concerned about the eSkills gap problem, which evidently came out as real in terms of the local picture. The eSkills gap problem is especially evident in terms of ICT hard skills. On the other hand, with respect to mismatches, this wasn’t evident that much. Hence, the businesses are being faced with the major question of whether to employ the relatively unskilled and provide training while suffering a lack of quality, or employing already skilled and seasoned individuals from abroad. Feasible suggestions are drawn up by the authors, with the intention to wake up and aid the responsible parties. The intention is definitely not to destructively criticize, but to prompt a positive response in order for the industries to keep growing and maturing, while providing sustainable employment in the local market.