IT wages are growing faster in the North of England than in London, but workers in the capital still enjoy considerably higher salaries, according to research by IT staffing company ReThink Recruitment.

The research found that pay rates for tech workers in the North of England are growing 29.7% faster than for London-based staff. Salaries for IT staff in the North grew 4.8% last year, compared to 3.7% for Londoners.

However, the average yearly wage for IT professionals in the North is now £33,333, compared to £44,200 for a Londoner.

Jon Butterfield, managing director of ReThink Recruitment, says: "Skills shortages are an important factor driving wage rises for IT professionals in the North, where rapid growth of hi-tech industries is far outstripping supply of skills. Employers are offering big incentives to draw IT staff away from the South-East, which tends to be a magnet for technology professionals.

"The IT industry is moving towards remote, flexible working at a rapid pace, which is eroding traditional geographical constraints, such as the North-South divide. So much work can now be accomplished offsite that the IT workforce is becoming increasingly dispersed."