In its 'Professional talent spotlight - March 2010' report, recruitment consultancy Badenoch & Clark noted the demand as organisations planned upgrades to Microsoft Windows 7, having "snubbed" Vista.

Badenoch & Clark also noted trends in sectors such as the NHS and financial services.

In the NHS in general, it said there was a particular demand for information analysts, data migration experts, and in some areas, network and server engineers.

"A number of systems upgrades and restructures in the NHS in the Midlands in particular have led to increased demand for permanent network and server engineers," said Matt Gascoigne, associate director, IT at Badenoch & Clark.

"Preference within NHS trusts for fixed term contracts over contracts is continuing," he added.