Identify the Current Demanded Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) in IT through Analysis of Job Advertisements in Sri Lanka: A Framework Using Natural Language Processing Techniques

This research aims to develop a Natural Language Processing (NLP) framework to uncover the current demanded Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) in the Sri Lankan Information Technology (IT) sector. In the KSA, this paper focuses on professional qualifications and concepts, technical skills, and soft skills. Understanding the specific Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities demanded by industries is not only relevant to academics but also holds practical significance for job seekers, educational institutions, and employers. By employing Natural Language Processing techniques to analyze job advertisements, this research aims to bridge the skills gap, and support the relevant beneficiaries. The outcomes include the ability to use Generative AI for job advertisement annotation, an NLP framework to analyze job advertisements, identify the main areas in the IT sector according to ESCO (European Skills/Competences, Qualifications, and Occupations) classification-based customization and their specifically demanded KSAs for each domain. Importantly, the results also highlight that Knowledge and Skills vary across different domains, while Abilities remain common with slight changes.