Applications for UK work permits could be popular among overseas IT employees as recent figures have revealed the sector is performing relatively well in Britain.
The latest Report on Jobs from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) found that demand for permanent IT staff is still growing at a healthy rate in spite of the slowdown in the wider jobs market.
With minimum salary levels now in force for UK work permits, IT's reputation as a well-paid sector could tempt overseas workers to consider applying.
Both permanent and contractor positions within the sector are growing, although with an index of 57.2 (where a figure above 50 denotes growth) demand for permanent IT staff is exceeding demand for contractors, which stands at 52.1.
Jeff Brooks, technology chair at the REC, observed that even when the UK economy as a whole is struggling, “demand for qualified IT professionals remains healthy”.
He added: “It has long been clear that the jobs of the future will be in technical, highly-skilled areas such as IT. The current tremors in the market only seem to be accelerating this trend.”
Overseas workers might be further encouraged to apply for positions in this sector as Britons don't appear to taking full advantage of the jobs on offer. Mr Brooks observed: “IT is one of the few areas of the economy providing real, long-term employment opportunities. Employers, recruiters and IT professionals themselves all have to start shouting this more loudly.”