Nearly three quarters of IT professionals think employees over 40 can progress up the career ladder.

It is an increase of a quarter after just 50 percent thought the same thing in the 2006 IT Job Board survey.

This year, the number of respondents aware of the legislation outlawing ageism in the workplace also rose from 62 percent to 68 percent.

Alex Farrell, director of The IT Job Board, is encouraged by the results of the survey. He said: "There are varied reports about how effective legislation had been at reducing ageism in the workplace. But our research would suggest the IT sector has taken heed and recognised the benefits that older workers bring to organisations. These include experience that tends to increase people and management skills, but also technical ability such as being better equipped to deal with legacy systems."

He added: "The lack of skilled IT professionals is a constant cause for concern in the industry and, whilst the findings of our most recent research are no reason to be complacent, they do offer a part solution to the problem. As well as ensuring that older workers feel valued, the sector needs to do everything it can to encourage complete diversity throughout the workforce in recognition that anyone with the right skills has a role to play, regardless of their age, race or gender."