The paper reports the principles and approaches underlying the classification of Information Technology (IT) skills, the meaning and usage of the term, and describes the development of current thinking on their specification. It notes certain differences between “Anglo-Saxon” and continental European perceptions of IT skills, and goes on to illustrate how the continuing turbulence of the field and market exploitation have prevented convergence and stability in skill needs assessment, institutional structures and qualification maturity, as well as posing barriers to the establishment of a real “IT Profession”. The paper concludes with consideration of some implications for policy analysis and development at the European level.