Offshoring leads to rise in mid-level IT pay

Offshoring and the drop in the number of IT graduates has led to an increase in the pay of mid-level IT staff, new research reveals.

The report by the Income Data Services (IDS) found that the median salary for IT user support technicians has increased 13 per cent to £24,177 in the last year, while network and systems engineers both saw a jump of 9.5 per cent , taking their average pay to £31,120.

Commenting on the findings, Ken Mulkearn, editor of the report, said: "The sizeable pay increases we are seeing in mid-level IT support and technical roles is being driven largely by acute skills shortages.

"As the UK IT sector continues to specialise increasingly in more high-end technical work, and more entry-level jobs are outsourced overseas, there are fewer opportunities for graduates and others with less experience to get a foot on the first rung of the career ladder."

Analysts have in the past commented on the outsourcing of junior level IT work to countries like India.

Anne Swain, chief executive of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies, was quoted by Computer Weekly as saying: "The shortage now is of candidates with a few years experience looking for second and third jobs.

"But how do you get that experience if entry level jobs are being sent offshore?"

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