The UK has a shortage of senior IT staff, according to research by e-Skills UK, the industry body for IT, telecoms and contact centre employees.

The number of people in IT management jobs has increased 34 per cent in the past four years, while other areas have remained static or declined.

Research by e-Skills UK on the demand for IT managers shows the growing difference between less skilled IT jobs that are being taken offshore, and the more value added staff that are increasingly in demand.

E-Skills UK predicts that the greatest demand for IT project and technical staff will be those with Java programming skills, .Net internet technology and security skills.

Meanwhile, those with older skills are in less demand. Recruitment firm Harvey Smith estimates that 10 to 15 per cent of the UK workforce are seeing their skills, such as Cobol programming, fall out of date.

David Oates, international vice president at project management firm Primavera, said: "There simply aren't enough skilled candidates capable of using IT effectively.

"The worry now is that companies may exacerbate the problem by panicking and employing new staff to fill the gaps without properly assessing their suitability or giving them the necessary IT training.

"For many firms the best advice is to ensure that the existing workforce is up to the job, equipping them with IT tools to help maximise their productivity until the skills crisis subsides."