The number of firms reporting IT skills shortages has increased, from 12% in the first quarter of the year to 14% in the second quarter, according to a survey by sector skills body e-Skills UK.

On an impact scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is "no effect" and 100 is "company closure", firms reporting gaps in the skills of IT staff rated the effect at 48.

Karen Price, chief executive at E-Skills UK, says: "Although the IT skills gap only marginally increased in the first quarter of this year, this research shows that the impact of skills issues is potentially very damaging for organisations."

The survey also found that 20% of IT recruiters said they find it difficult to find applicants with the appropriate level of skills, a rise of 3% from the fourth quarter of 2005.