The South East is on the brink of a boom in IT
recruitment as technology firms plan to expand over the next three
years.
Research by property consultant Atisreal has estimated that
11,000 new jobs in IT and telecoms will be created in the South
East by 2009.
Thirty three per cent of IT and telecoms companies plan to take
on more staff over the next three years.
Atisreal's research, based on interviews with 100 companies,
revealed that demand for new products and services, and the desire
for employers to enter new markets was driving expansion.
The survey suggested that offshore outsourcing was having a
minimal effect on employers' plans to recruit IT and telecoms
staff.
Only 20% of the firms surveyed had either sent work offshore in
the past 18 months, or planned to do so in the next three years.
And only 11% said that off-shoring would have an impact on
employment in the region.
Most businesses said the availability of skilled workers was a
key factor in their decision to set up in the South East.
Nearly 50% of the IT and telecoms firms surveyed said they were
happy with the region. But those that had misgivings pointed to
high business costs and high housing costs.
Rob Cregeen, head of Atisreal's South East office, said, "The IT
sector has expressed a clear vote of confidence in the South East,
which is welcome after the difficulties of recent years.
"Although the staff changes do not signal an immediate upturn in
demand for office space, we would expect this to start filtering
through in the next 12 months as IT businesses plan ahead."