A recruitment group has claimed that IT contractors in the south earn significantly less that those in the north.

Research from CV Screen suggests that a serious north/south divide is opening up in the IT sector, with those in the south-east and London earning as much as 20 per cent more than those elsewhere.

While London workers do generally earn more than the national average, CV Screen says IT contractors in the capital are getting 14 per cent more - with a large increase seen in the last two years.

Despite this, the firm's managing director Matthew Iverson said fewer people are heading to London for IT jobs.

"Ggrowth of online recruitment has also made it much easier for candidates to find local employment and with many technology companies choosing to base themselves out of London," he said.

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation recently revealed that jobs growth for temporary workers had slowed to reach a 14-month low.