By Paul Kunert
19 August 2008
The less than certain trading climate is feeding through to fears over job security among those that plough their trade in the IT industry, according to a survey by recruitment agency Interquest.
The study found that more than half of those questioned were anxious about their current or future employment, compared to only 12% at the start of the year.
It would also appear that one in three companies is starting to cut jobs, a rise of 20% since Interquest’s last survey in February. That said, 52% of respondents said IT was more secure than other sectors.
“Despite the economic doom and gloom of the past year, the IT sector has been pretty robust,” claimed Gary Ashworth, executive chairman at Interquest.
“While other industries [have fallen] victim to job cuts and declining profits, IT remained resilient. The results of our survey show it’s only now that we’re feeling the effects of the credit crunch,” he added.
Resellers in the finance sector may dispute those comments as business became very thin on the ground for some from the start of the year. In June, Yes IT managing director Philip Alexander said business had fallen off the edge of a cliff in 2008.
Last month, Microscope revealed 130 firms in the channel had gone into administration or were made insolvent according to credit reference agency Graydon UK – a four year high.
But recruitment agency Interquest argues IT come out of the economic downturn earlier than most other industries because it has become integral to businesses operations.
