South: Increased positivity among IT contractors, says giant group

IT contractors are expecting to earn higher wages for the second year in a row, according to research carried out by professional umbrella employment provider, giant group.

Results from its latest survey indicate 67% of IT contractors are expecting an increase in earnings over the next 12 months, highlighting growing confidence within the market. This is up 6% on figures recorded last year. A further 53% of respondents reported they were expecting more job opportunities in the next year, compared to only 5% who felt openings would decrease.

Sector breakdowns highlighted a number of areas in which IT contract work is buoyant. Opportunities in retail are particularly rife with 11% expecting new positions in their field, a 5% rise on last year’s figures. Other sectors that have proved popular for respondents include manufacturing (up 3% on last year) and support services (up 2%).

Commenting on these findings Matthew Brown, managing director of giant, said: “These results represent an overall improvement on last year and it’s encouraging to see so many IT contractors feeling optimistic about the market. The positivity shown by IT contractors in retail doesn’t come as a complete surprise as they will be needed to manage the increased prevalence of technology in the sector. It’s obvious to us that organisations recognise the value that contractors can bring and we will hopefully see increased reliance on these professionals as we move into the New Year.”