In the UK, the need for IT contractors has increased and broken all the records by 71.7 score, which is the highest level since March 1998. June addresses the fifth month straight where the demand expanded.
The research by REC stated that the IT contractors demand,
- hit 69.3 in May,
- 62.1 in April,
- 64.0 in March, and
- compared to 53.5 in December
Uncovering these figures, the REC commented the market was presently "improving at the quickest speed we have ever seen,". However, they also advised, "it is still an unpredictable time.”
A sudden increase in demand
The sped-up digital change post-lockdown has put tech IT talents in the path of progress. With remote working plans expected into the future and the expansion of firms going online, IT remains the predominant sector of all when talking about hiring. Businesses across all areas are looking for IT contractors to help them rebuild.
The rise in the usage of cloud-based systems, especially in industries like banking, is creating the need for contractors with skills in cloud infrastructure.
REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) chief executive Neil Carberry said “there was a huge bounce in hiring during Q2.”
Shortage of IT skilled workforce
The IT contracting sector is also seeing a shortage of skilled workforce. In the sector, there is a need for workers who understand the C#, Data, Media, Automation Testing, Technical Sales and Software Engineering, While particular to IT project workers, openings requiring CNC, Cyber, Scala and Java were the hardest for the agencies to hire.
“The deterioration in staff supply intensified this month, with overall candidate availability declining at the quickest rate since May 2017. This is a worrying trend and the message is clear: we need businesses and recruiters working alongside the government to urgently address the skills gap,” said Mr Carberry.
Also See: Hourly or Daily contract rate - How to maximise your earnings?
Slow interview processes can bring difficulties
A software engineer told ContractorUK, “I did the first three [interview] rounds two weeks ago for a role I wanted. I decided to pull my name for consideration because they were planning to schedule 4 to 9 more rounds of the interview process”.
The process of taking interviews, especially in the IT sector, is getting long, complex, frustrating and boring. Nowadays, candidates want jobs quickly with fewer office visits. They prefer the first two interviews to be held online.
Companies are doing the right thing by assessing the potential of an applicant thoroughly but they need to understand that nobody will wait for a “Nine-stage Interview”. They have to work on their fear of recruiting the wrong candidate.
Boost your skills as a contractor
The Department for Education in April, started an online platform "The Skills Toolkit", providing individuals free, top-notch digital courses to help develop their abilities and lift their work possibilities. The Chancellor likewise assigned financing for training and improved professional skills.
Closing Note:
It is the right time for contractors to polish their skills and begin looking for career opportunities. As Antony Walker (TechUK’s deputy chief executive) says, “We’ve seen two years of digital transformation happening in the space of two weeks.”
Reliasys is a leading umbrella company providing a hassle-free way to get paid to the numerous IT contractors in the market. Become an employee of Reliasys today, contact us at,
020 3500 2615
