UK-based IT executives are increasingly looking to move abroad to find employment, according to new research by online career service provider Experteer.

The study of 13,000 executives in various industries across Europe found that IT, along with finance and professional services, was the most likely sector to experience cross-border migration by staff.

Eleven per cent – nearly 200 – of the IT executives questioned said they had moved countries within the last year to find new employment.

Many IT workers may be looking abroad because promotions and pay rises are being cut due to the current economic climate, according to Experteer's UK managing director Torsten Muth.

"The economic downturn in countries like the UK is one of many reasons," he added. "However the UK is ahead of the curve in this respect because other countries will follow [into recession]."

Muth argued that Europe has increased its appeal for IT executives because many may have already studied abroad or lived abroad in the past. "And with IT it doesn't really matter where you are – the language barrier is much less," he added.

Employers looking to keep their senior IT staff should keep the channels of communication open, advised Muth.

"They need to give regular updates on what's happening and telling them that once the economic situation changes there will be new opportunities, because otherwise that person may look elsewhere," he added.