Managers have seen their stock rise in the IT industry as a result

of offshore outsourcing, industry experts say.

A report by the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo) claims that outsourcing has made managerial experience even more prized in the market, and has caused a strong imbalance in pay for high and low earners in the IT industry, Neil Thornton, managing director of the technology arm of recruitment and training group Quantica, has seen the effect on companies that have relocated part of their IT operations to Asia.

“Managers are even more valuable now because of the challenges outsourcing provokes,” he said.

“It’s hard to manage remotely, and you also have to take into account the time difference.”

The iProfileStats/ATSCo research found that IT professionals with high-level managerial and consulting skills saw their pay rise 10% on average since 2004.

The report even found that some consultants, such as security experts, have on average received a 22% increase in the last 12 months.

However hourly rates for contract/temp IT helpdesk workers have fallen from £16 per hour in 2004 to £12 per hour in 2005, while average salaries for permanent IT helpdesk workers fell 3% to £17,538.

Dawn Marriott, managing director of Capita IT Resourcing, believes there is a two-way flow of talent between India and the UK.

“More candidates from India are coming to work in the UK,” she said. “They are often semi-skilled, with Java. The increased competition may result in a drop in the salaries in these junior IT areas.”

ATSCo chief executive Ann Swain says IT careers are at a crossroads.

“The lowest-skilled technical roles are under pressure as organisations continue to ship jobs overseas,” she said.

“In contrast, highly skilled managers and consultants are receiving pay increases more than treble the rate of inflation.”