Scottish tech firms are losing out on a diverse talent pool by failing to attract and recruit more neurodivergent people, according to Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

More than 13,000 digital technology jobs need to be filled each year, and SDS says that neurodivergent people “have the talent and abilities well suited to plug this ever-widening skills gap”.

However, SDS also recognises that recruiting neurodivergent individuals can be seen as “daunting” for some, particularly for smaller firms.

To help those in the Scottish tech workforce missing out on a diverse talent pool, SDS is using its website Our Skills Force as a platform for a free webinar and access to new resources for employers.

Taking place on 22 June, the one-hour event will be delivered in partnership with the British Computer Society, the CIPD, Lexxic and ScotlandIS. Delegates will hear from a number of experts about neurodiversity, how it can benefit business, and how tech companies can better recruit and support neurodivergent talent.

SDS has previously also highlighted the importance of nurturing digital skills in Scotland’s workforce. In September 2018, the organisations noted that Scottish firms that fail to invest in digital skills will fail to grow.

Claire Gillespie, digital technology sector manager at SDS commented: “Many neurodivergent people are excited about getting into tech jobs. The tech sector is desperate for talent.

“It makes perfect sense that we try and marry these two together, particularly as many neurodivergent individuals have strong skills and qualities suited to tech jobs, such as attention to detail, high-level concentration, creativity, strong recall, reliability and an appreciation of routine and repetition.”

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Even before the pandemic, data suggested that by the end of this decade, 90% of all jobs will require some sort of digital knowledge. This time frame is likely to have been sped up due to the increased use of technology over the pandemic.

Earlier this month, data from a new report warned that many companies across the UK are lagging behind competitors in terms of technology adoption and the gap in digital skills in the UK is hampering small businesses from implementing new technology.

According to the Skills for Success: supporting business leaders with digital adoption report from the Open University and Be the Business, 77% of SME leaders said a lack of necessary skills is stopping them from using new tech.

However, it was announced in early June that more than 23,000 people across Scotland are to be given new online skills and training through the Connecting Scotland programme.

The £26 million programme aims to improve digital literacy and accessibility among people on lower incomes or socially isolated groups, such as the elderly.