UK techies happy to migrate for the right job

09 Dec 2008 17:46

A survey has found the majority of UK tech workers are ready to up sticks and move abroad if the right work opportunity came along

UK IT workers are ready to clear more than their desks if the right job comes along.

The vast majority (81 percent) of techies would happily up sticks and move abroad if a job or work opportunity landed in their lap, according to research by IT jobs site The IT Job Board. A slightly smaller majority (71 percent) would be happy to relocate to another location within the UK for the same reason.

The survey also found over 60 percent of tech workers routinely cast their eye beyond the UK's shores when searching for jobs.

Of those who said they would head offshore, almost a third said they would do so to further their career, with less than a fifth saying the current economic downturn would inspire them to leave the UK.

More than a third of respondents are upbeat about domestic IT job prospects, saying they believe the UK will continue to see strong growth in demand for IT professionals.

For techies choosing the good life elsewhere, learning the language is a must — more than a third said the language barrier is the main challenge when moving to a foreign country.

Story URL: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/itmanagement/0,1000000308,39574472,00.htm