Swart says the varying pay rates and a declining economy has not placed downward pressure on and other higher-wage countries. The average U.S. hourly rate has not changed in a year, and pay for developers has increased from $19 to $27 an hour there due to strong demand. Some firms are looking for workers in specific time zones, but the most important criteria for many employers is the worker's rating, Swart said. The company provides an -like rating system where developers with strong recommendations can earn many times more than average rates.

, a managing director for sourcing advisory services, said that in general, the use of outsourced IT services are growing in the U.S. Application development and maintenance are the most popular services sought. He noted that some companies are also looking for expertise in infrastructure outsourcing, which may involve remote monitoring of data centers, and business process outsourcing.

"Businesses are undergoing a massive drive to bring down their expenses," said Scheier.