A study by IT recruitment firm CV Screen has found that permanent IT salaries in the UK have risen by 5.5 per cent in the last 12 months.

The analysis of the IT jobs market, which monitored over 30,000 advertised positions in the UK during the first quarter of 2007, concluded that the average salary for an IT professional is now £32,965.

"With the IT sector experiencing a period of continual growth, we have been experiencing especially high demand for IT professionals over the last year," said Matthew Iveson, managing director of CV Screen.

"During the same period there has also been a shortage of candidates seeking new roles and the net result is upward pressure on salaries," added Iveson.

The survey, which excludes salaries within the banking sector, finds that there has been considerable demand for candidates with Java, .Net, SAP and Network Support experience.

This has caused large increases in the salaries offered for candidates with these skills.

The increased uptake of online recruitment methods is also contributing to the heightened activity in the industry, the study found.

"The continued increase in candidates applying for vacancies through online job boards and uploading their CV to databases is quickening the recruitment process," Iveson said.

"Employers who are able to react quickly to applications are those who are benefiting most from the current candidate driven marketplace.

"The outlook for 2007 is equally buoyant and employers need to ensure they are accurately benchmarking their IT salaries or risk losing their IT staff."