Jobs drying up in technology sector

 

Gallery

By Maggie Holland

Posted on 15 Jun 2009 at 18:00

The majority of tech workers face a longer, uphill battle to secure a job, thanks to the current harsh economic climate.

Many sectors have already experienced this hardship, but the technology sector is now starting to struggle too, with just under three quarters of techies saying their search for work is taking much longer, according to an IT Job Board survey.

As a result tech workers are learning to be less fussy about the type of jobs they take on, according to more than half of those questioned as part of the research.

Some 64% of those surveyed said they are now considering both contract and permanent jobs, while 59% said they??re even willing to take a job with lower pay just to get a foot in the door.

"The current climate has meant that IT candidates are having to work harder than ever to secure employment. And they are clearly setting their expectations lower when it comes to selecting the types of roles they wish to apply for", said Alex Farrell, managing director of The IT Job Board, in a statement.

"There are fewer jobs being advertised, and employers are receiving greater response levels for campaigns. Now, more than ever, it is crucial for candidates to keep up-to-date with the market and any relevant IT qualifications and certifications," she added.

Earlier this year a TUC survey showed that one in three IT workers did a month's unpaid work every year.