Eight out of ten high-tech workers want to stay in IT

Over 80 per cent of IT professionals see themselves having a long-term career in technology, according to Silicon.com's exclusive Skills Survey 2000.

Of the 1,000 respondents to the research - which is conducted annually - 840 said they still expected to be working in the IT industry in ten years' time.

Ann Swain, CEO of ATSCO (Association of Technology Staffing Companies), said: "This is very different from five to ten years ago. People are a lot more content with their jobs now for two reasons. First, the technology has changed - it has gone from information to communication, largely because of ecommerce, and that makes it more challenging. And second, companies need to retain IT staff and are trying harder to make it a more appealing career choice with benefits and training."

Chris Setz, director of the Network Professional Association, added: "People like working in IT and the figure has shot up in the last ten years. Only recently it has become a very real and very valid career choice."

Jocelyn Somner, operations manager at Reed Employment, argued that this is indicative of the changing role technology plays in today's society. "People are coming into IT from all directions because there is a huge convergence going on. People in the accountancy, graphic design or even medical professions must have some level of technical understanding these days - they can't avoid it," she said.

You can see all the results of the Silicon.com skills survey at http://www.silicon.com/skillssurvey2000 .