Financial technology education provision and perceived skill gap in the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.

This article examines the employability skills gap in the financial technology (fintech) industry by comparing employer expectations and observed competencies in the United Kingdom, a developed economy, and Sri Lanka, a developing economy. Using survey data from fintech-related employers, the study finds minimal skills gaps in the UK, with only a few soft and technical skills showing significant differences, whereas Sri Lanka exhibits substantial gaps across soft, hard, and technical skills, particularly in critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. The findings highlight the role of higher education and in-house training in addressing these gaps and suggest that Sri Lanka's fintech sector faces greater challenges due to less developed educational infrastructure, limited training resources, and brain drain. The study underscores the need for curriculum enhancements and targeted skills development to better align fintech graduate competencies with industry demands in both contexts.