The IT sector will create around 78,200 jobs in the UK over the next four years, according to IT research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) and Microsoft.

The research shows that IT spend will reach £50.2bn in 2009, and between now and 2013 is anticipated to grow 1.8% a year, compared to GDP growth of -0.1% a year.  

The research predicts that the IT market will create nearly 2,500 new businesses, between the end of 2009 and the end of 2013, most of which will be small and locally owned organisations, and the jobs will be highly skilled, high-quality jobs.

Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft, says: “In this fundamental economic reset, innovative technologies will play a vital role in driving productivity gains and enabling the creation of new local businesses and highly skilled jobs that fuel economic recovery and support sustainable economic growth.”