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Microsoft has announced plans to try and boost the number of people looking for IT jobs by investing approximately £4.4 million to support projects across Europe.

The American company will support 28 projects in all across Europe that are trying to solve the current skills shortage crisis in the IT industry.

Jan Muehlfeit, chairman of Microsoft Europe, told eGov monitor: "We believe that any IT company bears a significant responsibility to help improve e-Inclusion across Europe. In today's digital society, no IT skills means no job. Lack of access to technology and IT skills is having crippling effects on Europe, both from economic and societal points of view."

He added that creating new opportunities for people that are unemployed, elderly people, disabled users or people wanting new or better jobs will "improve Europe's competitiveness and inclusion as a whole".

In the UK Microsoft has supported the Black Country Consortium (BCC) project which aims to improve the skills of people that are unemployed in the midlands area.

Randstad, State Street Corporation and Cisco System are working with Microsoft as part of the European Alliance on Skills for Employability.

Microsoft celebrated its 30th anniversary this year and was set up by billionaire Bill Gates.

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