Life in Luxembourg has become increasingly digitalised in recent years. To keep the wide range of platforms and applications running, people with digital expertise and programming experience are needed in almost every sector nowadays.
While IT is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Grand Duchy, it is simultaneously the sector where most job vacancies remain open due to shortages of skilled people. The National Employment Agency (ADEM) currently has 1,700 job openings in the sector, but only 240 skilled applicants to potentially fill them.
IT developer is the most sought-after profession in Luxembourg, a rather exceptional situation according to the ADEM, which can be explained through the fact that the country’s economy is mostly driven by service offers. Since 2015, there has been a 10% increase in demands for new employees to be familiar with data processing, regardless of sector.
In an attempt to eventually meet the demand, the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth launched the Digital Learning Hub (DHL) in Belval in May last year. The institute currently offers 130 different IT-related courses, including programming, cybersecurity, and design.
To further meet the specific demand of IT developers, a new software engineering school, called ‘Ecole 42' (‘School 42'), will open at the same location next year. Initially founded in 2013, the international institution already counts 40 locations across the globe. The idea is to allow people to study programming without a teacher 24/7, which is why 150 computers will be made available in Belval day and night.
Everyone above the age of 18 is welcome to study at the DHL, no qualifications are needed other than a willingness to learn. About 200 people have already been trained on site. People can register online and classes are free for job-seekers registered at the ADEM, as well as for students. Other people need to pay €4 per hour.
