Almost Two Thirds of Companies Have Off-Shored Their IT Function in the Last Six Months

LONDON -

- Latest Survey From The IT Job Board Highlights Outsourcing Trends

Almost two thirds (64 percent) of companies have off-shored a portion of their IT function in the last six months, according to the latest piece of research(1) from The IT Job Board, www.theitjobboard.co.uk.

And 34 percent of the IT professionals surveyed stated that more than half (51 percent) of their IT department had already been off-shored; 79 percent said to India.

When asked whether their companies were planning to off-shore in the next six months, exactly half (50 percent) said they believed they would be. And, 75 percent thought the work would go to India.

In terms of the roles being affected, 79 percent thought software developer jobs were being outsourced overseas, 71 percent stated programmer roles, and 67 percent advised IT support jobs are being impacted.

40 percent believed that the main issue with off-shoring is a lack of business knowledge. And, 83 percent stated that it is having a negative impact on the quality of their IT. 76 percent also felt that it presented no long-term benefit to the economy.

Teresa Sperti, head of international marketing at The IT Job Board, said: “Off-shoring is becoming an increasingly popular phenomenon, particularly as companies look to reduce cost during these difficult economic times.

“The UK is in the midst of a skills crisis, which is currently being undermined by the recession. If we are going to combat the long-term issues associated with IT skills, then businesses should be looking to train and utilise local talent, rather than off-shoring their IT activities. Companies also need to weigh up the cost benefit with the trade off in quality, before making the decision to off-shore.”

Notes to Editors

About The IT Job Board:

The IT Job Board group of companies was set up in April 2002 in recognition that recruitment in the IT sector was increasingly dominated by the internet.

Online technology enables sophisticated targeting - for example by skill, region or experience - of www.theitjobboard.co.uk’s database of 800,000 IT professionals. The IT Job Board always tries to get closer to candidates either via planned content campaigns, or through the use of social networks.

The site also offers employers services such as branded job postings, a featured employer zone, targeted email campaigns and guidance on advertising copy. The managed campaign service filters responses to provide companies with a shortlist of applicants most suitable for the advertised position.

www.theitjobboard.co.uk’s clients include Bloomberg, Nationwide, Oxfam and Student Loans Company Limited.

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(1) 298 respondents interviewed on the theme of `Off-shoring’ (July 2009)

For further information, interviews and photography please contact: Katrina Suppiah Publicite Ltd T: +44(0)20-8543-6582 E: k.suppiah@publicite.co.uk

Source: The IT Job Board

For further information, interviews and photography please contact: Katrina Suppiah, Publicite Ltd, T: +44(0)20-8543-6582, E: k.suppiah at publicite.co.uk