Jobs market looks to global IT spend

A GENERAL increase in global IT spend over the coming months could significantly benefit the jobs market here, a conference has heard.

“About half of the losses in exportable services employment in 2009 occurred in the foreign-owned ‘IT, consultancy and computer services sector’, whose mass market-orientated sales appeared to suffer more than did the niche sales of the indigenous segment of the sector. That global IT spending appears to be on the rebound in 2010 provides some grounds for optimism,” according to Professor Frank Barry of Trinity College Dublin’s School of Business.

Prof Barry was addressing the Turning Globalisation to National Advantage: Economic Policy Lessons from Ireland’s Experience half-day conference — jointly hosted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and TCD, in Dublin, yesterday.