Laid-off IT workers strike out on their own

The multiple opportunities available to laid-off technology workers who want to work for themselves has been highlighted in a new Computerworld article.

Some IT employees have been using their skills to start their own consulting businesses, while others turn to online employment marketplaces to find freelance and contract jobs.

A new survey by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that 8.7 percent of people who lost their jobs in the second quarter of this year had gone into business for themselves.

This proportion compared to 6.4 percent who did so in the first three months of 2009 and 4.3 percent who started their own firm in the second quarter of 2008.

Robert Goodearl, who runs his own software company in Massachusetts, told Computerworld he has noticed that many IT professionals are looking into being their own boss.

"I have seen a lot of interest in people who are considering becoming consultants," he said, adding that some of these individuals are still employed but concerned about job loss.

There are currently 8,192 open jobs listed on oDesk, many of which are in the IT sector.