The UK is at risk of an IT brain drain as opportunities for
IT professionals in the UK diminish, IT technologists
believe.
More than three-quarters of IT professionals predict the UK IT
sector will suffer from brain drain, according to a survey of 260
technologists by the IT Job
Board.
Some 39% said that offshoring would encourage more IT staff to
seek work overseas, 28% said contract rate reductions and 27% said
concern over long-term career prospects would drive jobs
overseas.
Some 17% of the people questioned believed that software
development jobs would be most impacted by brain drain, and 10%
thought that programmer roles would be most affected.
Around 80% said they would be prepared to relocate overseas and
59% also stated that they would consider relocating overseas for
five years or more.
Sixty one per cent of them would consider moving to Australia,
and 59% to the USA.
Commenting on the survey findings, Jamie Bowler, head of
marketing at The IT Job Board, said, "The UK IT sector cannot
afford to lose key individuals with specific technical knowledge
and skills, both during the recession, and as we approach a
possible upturn.