There could be an increase in the number of IT jobs on offer throughout Europe and the US as more roles move into the cloud, according to the results of a new study.

Elance's new quarterly Online Employment Report revealed the number of companies hiring online workers increased by 107 per cent throughout the third quarter of 2011.

Fabio Rosati, chief executive officer of Elance, said: "Increasingly, businesses are able to find the talent they need in the cloud. They build teams and distribute work to … knowledgeable workers who offer their invaluable set of skills to clients worldwide."

Elsewhere, the report found those working in the online environment earned a record $38 million in 2011's third quarter, an increase of 51 per cent from the same time the previous year.

Meanwhile, the most recent data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed the number of people employed in the information technology sector increased by 34,000 throughout the month of September.

Posted by Fiona Summers