A surge in demand for web skills, driven by the creation
of second generation websites including MySpace and YouTube, has
pushed up pay rates for top web developers.
Over the past year, salaries for permanent web developers have
soared by 27% with some skilled developers earning as much as
£50,000 a year.
The latest research by Skills Market/The Association of
Technology Staffing Companies shows that web developers are now
amongst the most sought after IT professionals in the UK.
But a slowdown in the number of graduates going into the IT
profession, is leading to a bidding war for talent, Atsco
claims.
“We are now facing a skills crisis similar to the late 1990s.
Back then, it seemed every train carriage had at least one
20-year-old reading a Java manual, but the excitement is more muted
now and graduates are not flocking to learn web technologies in the
numbers they once did,” said Ann Swain, ATSCO chief executive.
Over the past 12 months, salaries for experienced Enterprise
JavaBeans developers have jumped by 38% from £36,250 to £50,000.
Experienced DECOM developers have seen their salaries jump 41% from
£37,000 to £52,250.
The upturn follows growing interest by businesses in the next
generation of the internet, Web 2.0, which is spurring
organisations to invest in new technologies to upgrade their
websites.
The BBC recently revealed plans to rebuild its website around
user generated content, including blogs and home videos.
Retailers including Asda and Debenhams are upgrading their
websites to meet an expected upsurge in demand in the run upto
Christmas. Online sales are expected to increase by 40% this year
from £5bn to £7bn, according to industry projections.
“As broadband internet connections become more widespread,
running programmes from browsers becomes a possibility. A lot of
websites are being overhauled to offer much more interactive
content, which is stoking demand for web skills,” said Swain.
The rising demand has led to a bidding war as companies view for
skilled developers. Poaching is on the increase following a decline
in people entering the profession from university, Atsco
claims.
The number of full time undergraduates studying computer science
in the UK has fallen 16% from 85,535 in 2002/3 to 73,515 in
2004/5.
ATSCO predicts that demand for IT skills will continue to grown
in 2007, driven by demand from software suppliers upgrading
products for Windows Vista and from financial services
industry.
“Global banks now fully recognise the role of IT in maintaining
their competitive edge. The clearest, most stark example of this is
their commitment to build a global electronic stock trading
platform,” said Swain.
| | Q2 05 | Q2 06 | +% |
|---|
| Java | £33,000 | £35,000 | +6%
|
| Enterprise JavaBeans | £36,250 | £50,000 | +38% |
| .net | £35,000 | £41,250 | +18% |
| BEA Weblogic | £38,500 | £50,000 | +30% |
| DCOM | £37,000 | £52,250 | +41% |
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