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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

UK's IT talent plans to 'jump ship'

The IT Job Boardís market survey indicates that more than two thirds of IT pros are considering an overseas move

More than two thirds (67 percent) of IT workers are considering or have applied for IT-related jobs outside of the UK. That is one of the key findings from The IT Job Board’s candidate job market survey[1].


Only 32 percent (less than a third) said that this wasn’t something they were considering.


When asked their reasons for a possible move, 71 percent said that it was down to the quality of the jobs on offer, 68 percent advised that it was due to a higher earning potential, and 69 percent stated that it was to experience new cultures.


Commenting on these findings, Alex Farrell, managing director at The IT Job Board, said: “I was very alarmed to read these statistics – clearly large numbers of UK IT professionals have either made the move overseas at some stage in their career, or this is something they are planning.


“If this boils down to quality of the jobs on offer in the UK, or low salaries, then companies need to work hard to improve their offering, in order to attract and retain staff. At a time when we are suffering an IT skills shortage, we cannot afford to lose key talent. The onus lies with business managers to develop and nurture their employees and to make the UK’s IT job market an attractive one to work in.”


[1] Candidate job market survey, March 2011 – 228 respondents