The number of IT workers from non-EU countries coming to the UK has tripled since the dotcom boom.

Statistics uncovered by recruitment trade body APSCo found 35,430 non-EU IT workers were granted work permits in 2008, compared to 12,726 in 2000.

However, recruiters have not noticed a stark increase and think the number of entrants has decreased further since the introduction of the points-based immigration system.

Alan Rommel, managing director of recruitment at IT recruiter Parity, told Recruiter:

“It was quite surprising, I have not noticed any increase in the number of applications we receive from outside the EU.”

Matthew Wheeler, divisional manager at IT recruiter Globe One, told Recruiter: “The changes [in the immigration system] are causing problems for companies that import staff from overseas.

“I know one Indian outsourcer, which was shopping skills from India into the UK, which has been hit on the head because of the way the visas are being issued.”

The data shows that the number of foreign IT workers coming to the UK in 2008 fell by 8% from its high point of 38,450 in 2007.