Steady growth is forecast for the international IT services industry during the coming four years, new figures have revealed.

Data from analyst Ovum suggested the global market will expand by an average rate of 4.4 per cent a year over the period in question, which could result in new jobs for professionals in the sector.

According to a report by the organization, the IT services field will return to "healthy growth" of 4.5 per cent by 2013, significantly higher than the sub-two per cent expansion recorded in 2010.

Business process outsourcing will be the strongest part of the industry during the coming years, Ovum predicted, adding that IBM, HP and Fujitsu will be the companies leading the industry.

Ovum analyst Dr Alexander Simkin said: "The market for IT services is gradually recovering from the economic downturn … By 2013, we expect to see a return to pre-recessionary levels of growth."

In the US, the TechServe Alliance has reported that IT employment continued to increase in May 2011, although the pace of expansion slowed slightly.

Posted by Lee Thrace