Offshoring to India has forced down both salaries and
temporary rates for IT helpdesk staff based in the UK, the
Association of Technology Staffing Companies (Atsco) has
claimed.
Helpdesk workers' pay fell by an average of 9.6% between 2004
and 2005, according to an Atsco survey. Average pay for contract
and temporary IT helpdesk staff fell by 25% as average hourly rates
dropped from £16 in 2004 to £12 in 2005. The average salary for
permanent IT helpdesk employees fell 3% from £18,076 to
£17,538.
The increased outsourcing of entry-level IT jobs is reducing the
number of positions available for people seeking a first job in
technology, said Atsco.
Atsco chief executive Ann Swain said, "How will organisations
recruit IT staff for mid- to senior-level roles if there are no
entry-level jobs left in the UK for people to progress from? The
fall in the number of graduates choosing IT careers will filter
through to chronic skill shortages at the top in years to
come."
Atsco commissions iProfileStats to calculate average IT salaries
every quarter. Of 5,675 IT workers surveyed, 55% held permanent
jobs, 33% were contractors and 12% were unemployed.