Steady growth forecast for Scottish technology sector
16/05/2008(16:13)
Despite the economic slowdown, Scotland's technology sector should expect "steady growth" this year, industry experts have predicted.
In the Scottish Technology Industry Survey, which questioned professionals across the region's software, telecoms and IT services sector, 85 per cent of respondents forecast growth during 2008.
Representatives from smaller companies displayed the most optimism with more than 60 per cent expecting sales to grow by an excess of 20 per cent.
However, access to skilled employees continues to be the main constraint faced by businesses in the industry with some 68 per cent of respondents reporting this to be either "of concern" or a "very serious constraint".
Despite this, 86 per cent of representatives questioned said they expect to increase the total number of employees - a six per cent increase on 2007.
"This year's Survey provides a very encouraging outlook" remarked Polly Purvis executive director of trade association ScotlandIS which carried out the survey.
"Given a reasonable operating environment this year, our members are forecasting steady growth, consolidating on the improvements of the last two years."
The findings follow news that three-quarters of IT professionals would recommend a career in the industry to their children, according to a survey by The IT Job Board.
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