Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England can all expect to see an increase in demand for IT jobs over the next year.

However, the increase in demand for IT staff - estimated to grow by 4 per cent in some regions over the next twelve months - is likely to be offset by further downward pressure on jobs in London and the South East.

According to the latest research from the industry body e-skills UK, more than 24,000 IT jobs could disappear in London and the South East over the next year or so.

Overall, the 'e-skills Regional Gap - UK' report also found that programming and IT operating system skills were most in demand.

While the jobs market is still looking patchy, the report also throws some light on the skills levels of those currently in work.

The research found that six in ten employers believe their IT staff need additional skills to help increase productivity. Last year, five in ten employers thought their staff needed more skills training. ®