Revisiting the mismatch between formal education in computer science and the software and information services sector: the case of Argentina

Abstract

The Argentinean software and information services (SIS) sector has grown steadily over the last decade. However, academics, policy makers and managers agree that the shortage of computer science (CS) degree-holders has been (and is) jeopardizing future growth. This paper depicts the situation of formal education in CS and related areas in Argentina, providing the necessary basis from which to call into question the assumption that the primary driving force of a powerful SIS sector is CS graduates. After presenting figures of enrollment, graduates and researchers, we find that while it is true that there is a mismatch between the trends of formal education in CS and that of Argentinean SIS, it is not clear at all that the sector is limited because of that. First, international comparisons with the US and the UK show that the proportion of graduates is not necessarily the main driver of a highly innovative SIS sector. Secondly, qualitative sources underline the relevance of informal learning in the acquisition of the software skills actually used by workers. Additionally, the particular evolution of SIS wages could be limiting the inflow of graduates into the sector.

El sector argentino de software: desacoples entre empleo, salarios y educación

“…Evolución del empleo en el sector SSI, de estudiantes y graduados de carreras informáticas de todo el país (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017). Fuente: elaboración propia en base a SPU y OEDE Hasta fines de los 90, las curvas de evolución de la cantidad de estudiantes de carreras informáticas de todo el país y las del empleo en el sector SSI tenían pendientes paralelas (Zukerfeld, 2014). Sin embargo, como se puede apreciar en el gráfico 1, desde el despegue del sector, se verifica un crecimiento exponencial del empleo que es al menos parcialmente independiente de los estudiantes activos y egresados de carreras informáticas.…”

“…hay cierto desacople entre las titulaciones y los saberes que impactan en la productividad. Esto es especialmente cierto para el sector SSI (Zukerfeld, 2014). ¿Por qué se produce este divorcio entre el crecimiento de la productividad global del sector y el de las titulaciones académicas?…”

“…Ahora bien, los actores empresariales y académicos han señalado reiteradamente que la escasez de recursos humanos calificados (entendidos como graduados en carreras afines a la informática) constituía el principal obstáculo para una mayor expansión de este sector (vease por ejemplo Cámara Argentina de la Industria del Sofware - CESSI-, 2018, FIEL, 2018. Sin embargo, esta idea ha sido debatida en trabajos previos (Rabosto y Zukerfeld, 2017;Zukerfeld, 2014;Ferpozzi y Zukerfeld, 2012;Dughera et al, 2012). En este artículo se presenta nueva evidencia cuantitativa que demuestra las limitaciones y, más aún, el carácter ideológico de tal postulado.…”

Precarity, precariousness and software workers: wages, unions and subjectivity in the Argentinian software and information services sector

“…Another point worth highlighting in this context is the subjective tension between thinking of oneself as a worker (in a sense close to that of a manual worker) versus a professional (in a sense related to creativity, autonomy and being highly qualified). Precisely because a large proportion of Argentinian informatics workers lack formal qualifications (Zukerfeld, 2014), in many cases the employers' strategy of discursively establishing a hierarchy could be interpreted as an invitation to separate oneself from the mass of unqualified workers in order to stand out.…”

“…Actually, SIS is the branch of activity where relative wage increases have been the lowest over the aforementioned period. Moreover, the purchasing power of the average worker in the formal registered sector has decreased (Zukerfeld, 2014). This article presents detailed evidence of this tendency, through the analysis of national statistics.…”