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The outlook for jobs in the European technology sector is very positive with almost 60% of firms expecting to increase recruitment over the next 12 months, according to the annual IT confidence survey by Eurocom Worldwide in association with its UK partner, Six Degrees, a specialist technology public relations firm based in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Fifty-eight per cent of firms surveyed expect to increase jobs, with only 8% expecting to reduce headcount. The Eurocom survey finds that one in three firms is now finding it more difficult to recruit than last year. The people most in demand are software engineers followed by project management specialists and international sales people.
“The IT recovery is reflected in the fact that a skills shortage is now seen as the third most likely threat to growth in the sector,” commented Jennifer Janson, managing director at Six Degrees. “A slowdown in the global economy and further oil price increases are seen as the major threats.”
The Eurocom study predicts continued job growth in technology manufacturing in low labour cost centres, especially China. The vast majority of respondents (76%) agreed with the statement that Europe and the USA are rapidly losing their lead as technology manufacturing centres because of the rise of low-cost locations such as China and India. Just 11% of respondents disagreed with this statement.
Seventy-one per cent of those surveyed said that China will record the biggest growth in IT manufacturing jobs over the next three years followed by India (17%).
Firms are bullish on sales with 79% expecting to increase revenues and only 3% anticipating a downturn. Over half (53%) are more confident than last year with only 3% being less confident.
Respondents are divided on the outlook for the US economy. Twenty-one per cent are more confident for growth prospects for the US but this is mirrored by 20% who are less confident. 59% believe that the US economy will mark time.
Views are mixed on the outlook for the tech-heavy NASDAQ. While 58% expect it to increase, 34% expect it to show no growth while 8% forecast a decline in the NASDAQ over the next 12 months.
Almost 300 CEO, director or VP level executives responded to the survey in 20 European countries.
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