IT workers positive about job prospects

New research has found IT professionals remain positive about their career prospects, despite worsening economic conditions.

Just over two thirds (64 per cent) said they were confident, while nearly a quarter were more confident about the prospects of job progression than when the same 'Happiness at work' survey was carried out a year ago.

Recruitment consultancy Badenoch & Clark, which carried out the research, said these newfound levels of confidence would put pressure on retention rates.

Matt Gascoigne, Badenoch & Clark IT recruitment director said "benefits, career progression, confidence in senior management and flexible working opportunities" would be come increasingly more important in the IT sector than company loyalty.

This was evidenced by the fact that less than a fifth (18.8 per cent) said that they felt 'optimistic about my career prospects with my current employer'. And less than one in ten (nine per cent) agreed with the statement 'my employer has given me clear objectives and outlined a clear career path for me'.

Within the IT sector, the lack of loyalty to employers followed higher levels of career confidence, with one third saying they would leave a current role if another opportunity arose.

And younger workers, in the 16 to 24 age range, came out as more confident compared with other age groups than a year ago. While nearly three quarters of London workers were confident about improving their career trajectory, despite the fact the capital is likely to suffer most in tough economic times.

The firm surveyed 1,322 workers across different sectors in April 2008 as part of ongoing, quarterly research.

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