Northern Ireland expected to need an additional 9,000 IT workers by 2016

Employment in Northern Ireland's IT industry over the next decade will grow nine times faster than the country's average, according to a report released by IT skills council e-Skills.

The report, called Technology Insights 2011, said that more than 9,000 new IT and telecoms professionals would be needed in the region over the next five years, with over 1,800 new entrants required in 2011 alone.

The report also argues that if Northern Ireland exploits the full potential of its technology industry the region's economy could be boosted by an additional £700m over the next five to seven years.

More worryingly though, the proportion of IT and telecoms professionals under 30 across the UK as a whole declined from 33 per cent in 2001 to only 19 per cent in 2010, as the sector increasingly favours experienced workers from other sectors over young recruits from the education system.

At the same time, the proportion of those over 50 has almost doubled to 17 per cent.

The research also shows that gender remains a significant issue in Northern Ireland, with women making up just 22 per of the region's IT and telecoms workforce.