While the
The most surprising finding was that over 70% of respondents said that they were considering working abroad in search of perceived increases in job security and opportunity. What's more, even those looking to carry on working in the UK seemed predominantly unsettled in their current role with 92% admitting that they are either actively seeking work or at least keeping an eye on the job market.
In addition, a significant proportion of respondents (over 35%) said that they were considering work completely away from the IT industry.
What these findings demonstrate is that uncertainty still dominates the UK IT industry; employers are under increased pressure to achieve efficiencies and employees are starting to feel the impact of such pressures and constraints. As a result many are looking abroad or in some cases, deciding they have had enough of the IT industry all together - something which needs to be addressed.
As has been widely reported, the UK has faced an ongoing concern over skills shortages within the IT industry so losing further intellectual capital to other markets is a situation our economy cannot afford, especially as we look ahead to the prospect of economic recovery in the short-term. However, for those as closely involved with shaping and managing employment across the UK economy as we are, these research findings reflect real opportunity as well as highlighting potential concerns.
Employers who are willing to demonstrate a commitment to their employees and a progressive approach to the challenges of today's working environment have the potential to retain and attract the best candidates as they prepare for the upturn.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Over 70% of IT workers considering working abroad .
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.itjoblog.co.uk/blogadmin/mt-tb.cgi/119
This is a reaction to the clear message that the industry is sending us: "We do not want to hire IT people in the UK. We would rather outsource it to cheaper countries."
It is not too far away from moving the manufacturing industry away from the UK to countries like China some decades ago.
The current IT workers in the UK are living on borrowed time. The ones that were only in it for the money, are shifting to something else, hence the large number of students moving away from IT. The dedicated IT people are either sticking in there or moving to countries that are desperate to improve their infrastructure.
As for the "brain drain" in the UK's IT sector, no company really cares. Companies are far more concerned by how quickly outsourcing countries can increase their offering so that they can outsource more parts of their IT departments.
Sad, but true.
Well Jonathan, you made a point here. it's very true that there's a kind of brain drain actually happening in UK. But do you really think it is that serious that it will affect the whole IT industry in UK? I believe that we always had some kind of outsourcing in every sectors, currently the tendency is in IT but tomorrow it could be another sector...