The present paper focuses on those factors that affect transition from higher education to the
IT sector in Cluj-Napoca, in cases of entrants with informatics, automatization and computer
technology degree. The results show that transition to the IT market in Cluj-Napoca is primarily
influenced by the dependency of the local IT market on western IT markets with more central
positions, followed by the competition for workforce. The first factor: dependency is due to skill
shortages on the labour market in Cluj-Napoca. Launching new trainings with the involvement
of other departments at universities, such as design, business, sales, marketing or business
informatics can reduce dependency according to the representatives of the local institutions of higher education. Transition from higher education to the IT sector for entrants in ClujNapoca is smooth, due to the strong competition for workforce (second factor). Entrants select
their potential workplace based on the reputation of a workplace, position/projects, team
and remuneration. Labour shortage is present both in the IT sector and in higher education.
A long-term solution for reducing labour shortage in both sectors could be provided by creating
attractive career paths in the academy which would require stronger cooperation between
companies, state and higher education institutions, according to the representatives of the
institutions of higher education.