IT contractors are responding positively to the threat posed by offshoring to entry-level IT jobs by favouring roles that allow them to develop higher value skills and gain management experience, reveals a survey by giant group, the contractor services provider.

At the same time, short-term financial considerations, such as income and job security, continue to be of declining importance to IT contractors when choosing contracts.

The survey, conducted among over 2,500 respondents, shows that of six criteria, three - skills development, responsibility and brand status - are more important to IT contractors now than at the start of 2006.

Matthew Brown, managing director of giant group, says: “UK contractors are increasingly recognising the need to climb up the skills ladder and acquire more management experience as lower skilled IT functions continue to be sent offshore.”