Only one in 10 IT professionals currently feels secure in their job, according to a survey by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

This lack of security is causing people to worker harder and longer, with 27 per cent saying it has made them more focused at work, 56 per cent saying they would accept extra work, and 37 per cent actively looking for a more senior position.

The downturn needs a strong response from leaders to get the most from their IT workforce, according to Jo Causon, director of marketing and corporate affairs at the CMI.

"It is vital that the UK's leaders remain composed in the face of growing economic pressure because knee-jerk reactions will only serve to exacerbate the problem," she said.

Evidence from the survey suggests that companies are already vetting staff costs carefully. Over a third of respondents (37 per cent) said that their organisation had already frozen recruitment.

The research also identifies the top factors currently putting most pressure on the financial performance of UK organisations.

Rising energy costs tops the list at 32 per cent, followed by concerns over employee motivation (29 per cent) and weak demand (27 per cent).

The survey polled 1,118 senior executives across the IT sector.