Quarter of UK IT executives plan expansion of IT operations this year

A quarter (25%) of UK IT directors and CIOs plan to expand their operations by increasing their technology headcount in the first half of the year, new figures from the Robert Half Technology Hiring Index have revealed.

In addition, 38% of respondents said they plan to fill vacated positions when they arise. Of those questioned, just 9% said they foresee a reduction in roles over the next six months.

According to the report confidence is growing within businesses, as 62% of IT executives admitted to feeling more confident in the country’s economic growth over the next 12 months – which is up three points from the same survey last year. 

Nearly three-quarters (74%) said they feel more confident this year on their own company’s prospects, compared with last year. The 74% figure was up eight points from last year’s survey.

Phil Sheridan, managing director of Robert Half Technology said: “Our research shows some notable trends in the IT recruitment market with the large majority of companies challenged with finding skilled technology talent, particularly in the areas of software development, applications development and security. 

"One in four companies are creating new IT roles, signalling further investment as organisations are looking to leverage IT to improve efficiencies and facilitate business growth.”

The figures revealed that many IT executives fear losing their top performing IT staff, as 71% shared concerns about losing their best IT employees and 78% said they find it either "very" or "somewhat" challenging to find the right professionals with the right skills nowadays.

Sheridan said companies need to find new incentives to attract and keep the best people while the economy continues to recover. “These may include more flexible working arrangements, extra holiday and greater responsibilities and challenges within roles. And 2013 may also be the year when directors are forced to look at awarding payrises and bonuses to selected people in order to retain them.”

The results found that directors in London and the south east are most likely to add new IT positions to their businesses.

Of those questioned 28% reported an increase in London and south east IT staff, compared with 27% in the Midlands, 24% in the north and Scotland and 21% in the south west and Wales.