Workers revel in IT market boom, says new research

IT workers are overwhelmingly buoyant about their industry and prospects in spite of ongoing economic struggles, according to a new survey of almost 5,000 UK IT staff launched today.

The Computer People ëIT Salary Review 2008í report - conducted on behalf of the recruitment firm by research agency Loudhouse - polled 4,967 IT professionals on questions ranging from pay rise projections to age discrimination. Painting a detailed picture of the industry, the results hold relevance both for IT workers keeping an eye on the market, and for employers looking to recruit and retain the cream of the crop.

Headline findings from the research include:

ITís the average: The average pay for a full-time employee in the IT sector is now 35,160. This compares to an average across all sectors of 24,908, and the 29% difference reflects the higher skills base in the sector
On the up: IT professionals were ambitious about their prospects. Despite earning an average pay rise of 3.3% in 2007, the surveyed workers believed they would receive around 4.5% this year

Playing the field: 39% of respondents said that they were actively looking for a new job, with a further 48% ëkeeping an eye on the marketí. Thatís 87% of IT workers at least willing to consider a new role if one arose. A staggering 27% of workers say that their next job move will be within three months

Ennui in the UK: Brain drain may be damaging employer's prospects of keeping their best talent on board. 65% of those surveyed said that they are looking outside the UK for employment opportunities, with 87% of those who are suggesting that they want a better quality job

Top to bottom: 6% of permanent workers said that they earn less than 10,000, with only 1% of IT professionals earning between 90 and 100K per year. The highest proportion (15%) of workers sit in the 40-50K wage bracket

North and south: IT workers earn most in the capital, with an average wage of 41,474. Their peers in the north of England are around 7,000 worse off, with an average wage of 34,130, the lowest of any region

Skills to pay the bills: In terms of specific skill sets, those trained in Cobol earned most, with an average wage of 41,870. Cisco skills were at the bottom of the chart, at 32,320

Nick Dettmar, managing director of Computer People, said that the survey represented a market that was confident in its own ability. ìOur research shows that the IT industry is made up of professionals that know they are in demand, know they have a skill set that is sought after, and are keeping an eye out for opportunities that will stretch them,î said Nick.

ìWhile itís great that IT professionals are so bullish about their prospects, itís also worrying for IT departments that so many are on the lookout for what they see as better work,î he continued. ìEven more worrying, just 24% of the management teams that we spoke to via the survey said that staff turnover was an issue for them. Clearly this is something that needs to be higher up their agendaî.

For more information on the IT Salary Review 2008 report, or to speak to Nick Dettmar about the findings, please contact Chris Ewens from Octopus Communications on 0845 3 700 655 or via computerpeople@octopuscomms.net