Exciting figures from the Monster Employment Index in December show that online demand for IT staff increased by 17% overall during last year, with the Index hitting a six month high. All of which makes great reading for the UK’s IT contractors who work through umbrella companies. It’s a positive increase across the board, with the Monster Employment Index growing by 0.7% overall in December, thanks to the IT sector’s growth. In fact, some sectors saw as much as 28% growth in the same period! Commenting on these figures, Michael Gentle, Monster UK & Ireland spokesperson, explained, “The recruitment market is still active, with the Employment Index reaching its highest level since June and many sectors, including IT and engineering, showing a more positive picture than this time last year.”