Government cuts on training grants, which may affect IT contractors working in the UK, may also hamper the prospect of achieving a skilled workforce the future, according to the Trades Union Congress.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) recently advised the government to protect economic growth in its spending review, saying knowledge assets such as research and development as well as education and skills must be preserved.

A spokesperson for the TUC said the CBI was right to stress the need for research and infrastructure, but a skilled workforce cannot materialise if the government slashes training grants and employers refuse to pay to educate staff.

"A far better way to fund research and infrastructure projects would be to clamp down on tax avoidance by multinationals and the super-rich, and to start making those who caused the recession pay their fair share in repairing the damage they caused," he commented.