PC Support staff are the most sought-after IT workers in the UK, according to a survey by recruitment outfit Elan.

Its quarterly survey of the UK IT jobs market found PC Support and Senior PC Support staff were top of the list of jobs in most demand. Not that this shows in the wages on offer.

The national average salary for PC Support staff is running at £19,000 (£20,000 in London) while Senior PC Support personnel can expect to earn £23,000 (£25,000 in London).

Although PC Support staff top the list, Elan warns that salary levels for the coming year are likely to remain flat.

Taking a broader look at the jobs market, Elan reports that firms are hiring staff who are more "business aware" and who are used to dealing with customers.

Said Elan's Kate McClorey: "Companies are being much more selective about the kind of person they want. The market is in need of well-rounded IT skills, rather than just IT professionals with specific tools."

Elan added that job seekers also needed to keep on top of training and skills if they wanted to get ahead. Which will come as a huge surprise to Britain's great unwashed, ill-rounded, unemployed IT contractors. ®

Top 10 IT skills in demand Q1 2003 - Elan*

1. PC Support £15 £19,000
2. Senior PC Support £19 £23,000
3. Project Manager £35 £40,500
4. Business Analyst £35 £40,900
5. Oracle Developer £25 £27,000
6. Visual Basic £27 £27,000
7. Tester £27 £30,000
8. Unix Systems Administrator £35 £40,000
9. Network Support Engineer £25 £30,000
10. SAP Consultant £42 £45,500

*(first figure is average hourly rate, second is average annual salary)