The trend for outsourcing means that demand is set to outstrip supply for IT professionals in India, according to a new report.

A report by business consultancy McKinsey and Nasscom warns that India faces a shortfall of 500,000 IT professionals by 2010.

The IT sector expand by around 30% in India over the past two years, however, the sector is predicted to increase by more than 125% over the next five years as the trend for off-shoring grows.

To support the predicted growth, the IT sector, which currently employs one million people, will need another 1.3 million workers.

The report said that a lack of office space in the main IT hubs, such as Bangalore and New Delhi, are also expected to be a problem.