Careers in IT have been hit badly by the recession. Employers have shed staff at unprecedented rates, companies have accelerated
their plans to move IT offshore, and vacancies for job hunters have been few and
far between.
But the end may now be in sight. The latest Computer Weekly/SSL
Quarterly Survey of Appointments Data and Trends shows that the decline in the
IT jobs market may be levelling out.
The number of job vacancies advertised
in inner London fell by 1.9% in the last quarter, compared with a 68% fall in
the six months to March. And the number of jobs advertised by software houses
and consultancies, which represent nearly 60% of the total jobs advertised, fell
by 6.1%, compared with 24% in the last quarter of 2008.
However, with
Microsoft last week reporting a 17% fall in revenues, it is too early to talk
about recovery.
A worsening of the swine flu pandemic in the autumn could
set back the economy still further.
Employee absence
caused by swine flu could have a disproportionate effect on small and
medium-sized enterprises.
Up to 12% of the workforce is likely to be affected
by the H1N1 virus by September, according to government estimates, forcing at
least one in eight workers to stay at home.
Smaller organisations are the
least prepared for an outbreak which could cost the economy up to £50bn.
The
February snow storms proved the business value of working remotely via the
internet, but more than half of the UK's SMEs have not yet equipped key staff to
do so.
Cloud computing services, such as Google Apps and Office Live, and
voice over IP could allow staff to continue working if they cannot make it into
the office.
It makes good business sense. Providing employees with remote
access to company systems helps businesses to be more efficient and competitive
in an increasingly tough environment. But companies need to start planning now,
if they, and the economy, are not to be caught off-guard.
