Scotland could be in line for a boost in high quality jobs as the country's thriving technology industry pushes the boundaries both at home and internationally, according to a new survey of the sector.
More than 70% of companies in digital technologies plan to employ more people in the coming year and 58% will be looking for graduates to promote innovative growth, said the review by ScotlandIS, which provides an annual health check for the industry.
But while the good news is that jobs are in the pipeline, the less good news is that skills shortages mean employers are still struggling to find candidates who are suitably qualified for an intensely competitive global arena.
A spokesperson for 9-20 Recruitment, the Glasgow-based specialist technology recruitment company which sponsored the survey and added expert analysis and commentary, said: "The challenge is keeping the talent coming through from universities and colleges to keep up with demand for skilled workers."
The survey suggests that software, web, telecoms and IT businesses contribute more than £4 billion to the Scottish economy and support more than 100,000 jobs in more than 1000 innovative companies. Their markets include health, energy, aviation, financial services and the public sector.
Of those surveyed, 71% said that they were optimistic or very optimistic about the year ahead, with 67% reporting a rise in turnover. The vast majority of companies - 80% - expect sales to grow in 2013 and only 8% expect to see a decline.
Encouragingly for Scotland's international position, there is an increasing focus on building software products, with the number of companies engaged in this field up to 16% from 12.4% last year.
There is, indeed, significant emphasis on global focus, with 47% of smaller companies, 58% of mid-sized companies and 84% of larger companies already active in export markets with many more in all segments planning to engage.
And in what could be interpreted either as a reflection of tighter lending criteria or a determination to retain executive control, 82% of smaller companies and 63% of mid-sized companies are funding themselves either through founders' capital or retained profits.
Polly Purvis, executive director of ScotlandIS, said: "There is an increasing buzz about the industry as business and government transform their operations through the smart application of technology."
However, reservations remain across the industry about perceived skills shortages. Alastair O'Brien, deputy chair of ScotlandIS, said: "The software industry in Scotland is crying out for suitably qualified graduates.
"Growth in our industry is being restricted and Scotland is losing out to other countries. It is unacceptable that, in the midst of a world-wide digital revolution, Scotland doesn't have enough talented graduates to exploit fantastic global opportunities."