Three-quarters of IT professionals believe over 40s have positive career prospects, according to research by www.theitjobboard.com.

Nearly three-quarters (72.4%) of IT professionals believe people over 40 can progress up the career ladder, up from 50.3% last year survey, despite only a small increase in the proportion of people being aware of last year's legislation outlawing ageism in the workplace.

Theitjobboard.com is hopeful that, as well as being good news for IT professionals, the findings will send out a positive message from the technology industry, which is traditionally seen to be the domain of younger workers. Alex Farrell, director at Theitjobboard.com, said: "There are varied reports about how effective legislation had been at reducing ageism in the workplace.  But our research would suggest the IT sector has taken heed and recognised the benefits that older workers bring to organisations. These include experience that tends to increase people and management skills, but also technical ability such as being better equipped to deal with legacy systems."

Theitjobboard.com also believes that better career prospects for older people has the potential to go some way to helping the sector cope with the skills crisis that still threatens it.