Positive outlook for IT industry find The IT Job Board and Barkers

Despite the current financial climate, IT professionals are positive about the technology industry and their immediate future in it.  69 percent of respondents to an IT sector survey felt their company's position in the market was very secure or somewhat secure and 70 percent expect a salary increase in the next year.  In addition to affirming their own decision to work in technology, 75 percent of IT professionals would recommend a career in IT to a child.

The research was undertaken by online recruitment specialist, The IT Job Board (www.theitjobboard.co.uk) and recruitment marketing agency, Barkers (www.barkers.co.uk).  It was in conjunction with the companies' April think-tank event, 'The Future of IT Recruitment', an initiative offering IT professionals insight from industry experts and debates with their peers. Speakers from Barkers and The IT Job Board were joined by Geoff Inns, business development director at CNet Networks UK and Mark Brooker, the EMEA staffing manager at Microsoft.

Alex Farrell, managing director of The IT Job Board, comments:  “The over-riding conclusion of the research is that the IT sector is perceived to be a rewarding industry in which to work.  This verdict was reinforced by the positive mood at 'The Future of IT Recruitment'.  Despite the currently gloomy predictions, the IT sector also appears to be holding up well to the newly-tough economic climate – evidence that is backed up the increased number of applications to our site when compared to the same period last year.” 

Robert Peasnell, managing director of Barkers, confirms:  “It is easy to be swayed by the plethora of bad news stories, but it is important for the IT industry to put these into perspective.  The benefits of technology cannot be underestimated and the results of our research suggest that organisations are still investing in it.  However, this must be an ongoing activity in order to maximise the potential and enthusiasm offered by today's IT professionals.”

Some of the key findings of the research include:

- 86 percent of IT professionals expect to change jobs voluntarily in the next three years.

- 52 percent of respondents said they did not necessarily respect technology professionals with a relevant university degree.  This figure rose to 54 percent for men, with 62 percent of women saying they did respect IT-related degrees.

- If offered an attractive job opportunity that required relocation, 34 percent of female respondents ranked their spouse's jobs as the most important factor to consider when making the decision.  This figure dropped to 25 percent for male respondents.   Men however placed more weight on house prices, with 23 percent of male respondents saying this was the most important factor to take into account when considering relocation, compared to 20 percent of women.

956 people completed the survey, which was carried out between at the end of March 2008.  For a copy of the results in full please email [email protected] download from https://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/8422g33f95.