The number of UK IT directors looking to take on IT staff still exceeds those looking to cut headcount, according to research by IT recruiter ReThink Recruitment.

The survey shows that 34% of IT directors plan to increase IT staffing levels over the next year compared to 20% that say they intend to cut their workforce. The other 46% of IT directors expect that they will freeze recruitment for the next year, while 32% of IT departments have already cut staff in the year.

Michael Bennett, director, ReThink Recruitment, says: “On balance, IT directors remain reasonably optimistic about taking on new staff and skills. Very few expect a repeat of the job cut carnage that followed the 2001/2 post dot.com downturn. IT departments are much leaner now and many IT directors feel they have already cut down to the bone.
 
“In fact the real and growing concern among many IT directors is that further cuts in their budgets will start to jeopardise the quality of work and support they provide to rest of the organisation which they serve.”