The IT industry's approach to training is "exemplary" and better than most other sectors, said Lord Leitch, whose influential review on skills underpins the government's policy on training.
Smaller UK software and IT services companies are best placed to survive the global financial squeeze, with more than half forecasting double-digit growth in 2008.
The number of new IT jobs created by investment banks in the last quarter of 2007 fell 18% as institutions reined in IT spending in response to the global credit crisis.
The Department of Health has advertised for an NHS chief information officer. Headhunters have been recruited and interviews will take place in a couple of months.